InfoMigrants

Ahead of the implementation of the New European Pact on Migration and Asylum this year, the Director General of the International Center for Migration Policy Development, Susanne Raab, discussed European migration policies for the coming year.

Following years of stalling, divides, and compromises, Europe is preparing for a decisive test for its new Migration and Asylum Pact: implementation.

Leading one of the main European organizations focusing on the issue is Susanne Raab, recently appointed Director General of the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), from Austria.

The ICMPD is an international organization supporting governments and institutions to govern migration effectively.

The starting point, she noted in an interview with ANSA in Brussels on January 16, is that the numbers, appear to be telling a different story from the recent past.

'Figures must not be seen as an endpoint'

The most recent data shows a clear drop in irregular arrivals: about 30 percent less than the previous year.

Asylum requests also dropped by around 20 percent. Raab stressed that these figures are important and indicate a change in the trend.

"However -- and this is crucial -- these figures must not be seen as an endpoint," she highlighted.

"This is precisely the moment when Europe must not slow down. We cannot afford complacency."

"We are currently facing a historic peak in global instability," noted Raab, who previously served as federal minister in the governments of Sebastian Kurz, Alexander Schallenberg, and Karl Nehammer.

"We have identified 59 active conflicts worldwide and 87 countries facing worsening conditions, the highest number ever recorded. Conflicts remain the main driver of forced migration, and experience shows that migration dynamics can change very quickly. Routes can shift within weeks, as can countries of origin and transit. This is a lesson Europe has learned repeatedly, and it means we must remain prepared."

'The pact represents a milestone; returns will be key'

Designed to turn solidarity from an abstract principle into an operational mechanism, the pact is meant to consolidate the new balance even in the face of resistance from those who — like Hungary — continue to shy away from burden-sharing.

Frictions remain, Raab acknowledges, but they come as no surprise.

"Any major political reform involves a certain degree of limited commitment, and the pact represents a milestone in every respect," she says.

It does not merely set out rules, but "produces measurable effects." Against this backdrop, the Director General argues, the era of "every country for itself" is becoming increasingly related to the past.

"Member states can see that a common strategy works better than twenty-seven isolated policies," she stresses.

Returns will be the key test of the credibility of EU migration policies: "Today, the return rate stands at around 27 percent, the highest level since 2019. Member states want to increase it further and see it as a key indicator."

The importance of cooperation along the entire migration route

A cornerstone of ICMPD's work remains cooperation along the entire migration route. "It is essential," Raab says, "to work on an equal footing with countries of origin, transit, and destination. Without genuine cooperation along the whole route, no technical measure can work."

This is where ICMPD sees its added value. From its headquarters in Vienna, the center acts as a facilitator — bringing partners together, sharing expertise and supporting governments in turning policy into practice.

With 33 regional offices, ICMPD operates along all major migration routes, from the Mediterranean to the Western Balkans. And, while Italy is not yet a member state, the organization remains deeply engaged in the Mediterranean region through projects and partnerships.

Uncertainty remains high

Looking beyond the immediate rollout of the pact, uncertainty remains high. From Ukraine to Venezuela, and from Iran to Syria, multiple hotspots continue to shape migration pressures.

Around five million Ukrainians are currently living in Europe, while Venezuelans rank among the largest groups of asylum seekers in Spain. There are also major regional movements, for example, in Sudan.

"We have made important progress in recent years," Raab says. "Now we must continue to maintain the momentum and the sense of urgency."

Migration, she cautions, is never a one-off challenge: "It shifts, evolves, and reacts to conflicts and economic conditions. And that is why Europe must remain prepared," Raab concludes.