A newly published joint inform by the European Migration Network (EMN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) examines the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of migration strategies across EMN Member and Observer Countries, as well as selected OECD countries. Strategies are divided into six main categories: asylum, regular migration, integration, irregular migration, external dimension, and contingency planning. The inform offers a comparative analysis of how different countries approach migration policy, highlighting key challenges and good practices.
The inform reveals that 22 EMN Member Countries and three Observer Countries have at least one migration strategy in place. Among the 22 EMN Member Countries, some have both overarching and sector-specific strategies, while others have only sector-specific ones. One country integrates all sectoral strategies into its overarching asylum and migration strategy. All three responding EMN Observer Countries have overarching strategies.
The inform reveals that 22 EMN Member Countries and three Observer Countries have at least one migration strategy in place. Among the 22 EMN Member Countries, some have both overarching and sector-specific strategies, while others have only sector-specific ones. One country integrates all sectoral strategies into its overarching asylum and migration strategy. All three responding EMN Observer Countries have overarching strategies.
In many EMN Member Countries, the Ministry of the Interior leads strategy development, with input from local governments and the private sector. The strategies vary in scope—ranging from broad, overarching policies to targeted, sector-specific plans. Furthermore, migration strategies are often tied to other national or international policies. For example, Estonia integrates its migration strategy with broader national plans like its Welfare Development Plan, while Greece aligns its integration strategy with the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion.
Implementation methods differ as well. Some countries use annual action plans or project calls, while others engage in legislative procedures and partnerships with civil society and international organizations. As far as migration strategy dissemination is concerned, countries use various methods, including formal communication strategies, stakeholder events, discussions, and online publications. Monitoring is typically managed by the authority that developed the strategy, with many countries updating their strategies through regular evaluations.
EMN Member Countries face some challenges in developing migration strategies, particularly due to limited input from target groups, while changing migratory contexts can pose obstacles to implementation. Identified good practices include inter-ministerial coordination, inclusive consultation processes, and the establishment of new structures for an improved integration and protection of migrants and diaspora groups.
Selected OECD countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand set migration targets in their national migration strategies. In Japan and South Korea, migration management is emphasized through legislative reforms in five-year plans, with Canada’s 2023 migration strategy review serving as a good example of how to update national strategies.
The full inform, “Designing migration strategies,” is available in the Publications section on the EMN website.