A new joint inform by the European Migration Network (EMN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) examines how migration diplomacy can foster global cooperation for effective migration management. Titled “Migration Diplomacy: An Analysis of Policy Approaches and Instruments”, the inform explores the diplomatic tools, practices, and challenges involved in migration diplomacy across EMN Member and Observer countries with examples from non-EU OECD countries.
Migration diplomacy is becoming a vital element of international migration policy for EMN Member and Observer Countries. Seventeen countries have integrated it into their national migration strategies, employing tools such as bilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, and the appointment of special envoys to address specific migration-related challenges. Bilateral agreements are the most commonly used, addressing readmission, visa facilitation, or broader migration partnerships.Six countries report that migration diplomacy is not a prominent part of their international migration affairs due to their strategic alignment with European Union (EU)-level initiatives and national limitations, such as national capacity.
The inform categorises migration diplomacy approaches into coercive (negative conditionality) and cooperative (positive conditionality) frameworks, assessing their impacts across sending, receiving, and transit countries. Successful diplomacy depends on factors such as political stability, strong legal frameworks, and effective inter-agency coordination. Examples from non-EU OECD countries, Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, providing jobs for Pacific islanders; and Japan's economic partnership agreements (EPAs), allowing nurses and care workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam to work in Japan with a pathway to indefinite residency.
While migration diplomacy can enhance international cooperation on migration, EMN Member and Observer Countries face challenges such as coordinating across government levels, resource allocation, and developing sustainable frameworks. Successful migration diplomacy requires political stability in partner countries, robust legal frameworks, and strong institutional coordination.
The Inform aims to contribute to policy discussions on migration governance by highlighting the value of cooperative frameworks and diplomatic strategies. It provides insights into policy effectiveness, identifies areas for improvement, and examines the successes and challenges of managing migration internationally.
The full inform, “Migration Diplomacy: An Analysis of Policy Approaches and Instruments”, is available in the Publications Section of the EMN website.