Oslo – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) brought together researchers, thematic experts, and representatives from 36 embassies in Norway at the 13th Annual Embassy Seminar, held on 8 October 2024. The event aimed to enhance diplomatic cooperation to assist migrants in voluntarily returning to their home countries.  

This year’s seminar discussed the newly adopted EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and collaboration on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration. Kathrine Brinch, Senior Adviser from the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, presented key insights on the Pact, adopted in April 2024, emphasizing its role in shaping a comprehensive approach to migration management in Europe.  

“The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum acknowledges the dynamic between the internal and external dimension of the migration policy area,” Brinch explains. “While strengthening the internal legal framework for migration management within the EU, there is a growing focus on cooperation with other countries on migration, including on return and readmission.” 

Since 2002, IOM and UDI’s Voluntary Assisted Return Programme (VARP) has provided assistance to nearly 19,000 migrants living in Norway to voluntarily return to their country of origin. The VARP programme relies on strong partnerships with embassies to verify the identity of returnees, issue travel documents, and conduct passport authentication.

"A rights-based approach to return and reintegration programming is about tailoring the assistance to each individual returnee, assessing their needs and finding ways to address them in close coordination with partners," says Agueda Marin, Global Thematic Specialist from IOM’s Global Office in Brussels.   

Supporting safe and regular migration through international partnerships was emphasized throughout the seminar, with discussions centering on the important role of diplomatic cooperation in the successful implementation of voluntary return and reintegration.  

Research on return migration diplomacy in Sweden by Delmi (The Migration Studies Delegation) – presented in the seminar by Constanza Vera Larrucea and Iris Luthman – outlines recommendations highlighting the importance of incorporating the perspectives of countries of origin in return policy design and implementation. This research study evaluated diplomatic tools that can be utilized for cooperation on return and readmission, including for example, bilateral and multilateral readmission arrangements, and incentive-based agreements, such as aid to development.   

The seminar concluded with a commitment to continue collaboration and information exchange between IOM, UDI and embassies, ensuring the VARP programme will remain responsive to the evolving needs of migrants and the states involved. This multilateral collaboration will enable coordinated support for people that take the decision to voluntarily return to their country of origin, leading to sustainable outcomes that benefit migrants and society. 

For more information, please contact:  

UDI:  

• Vibeke Jørgensen, Head of the Return Section, vij@udi.no, +47 41238016 

IOM: 

• In Oslo: Claudia Mendoza, Senior Programme Associate (AVRR), clmendoza@iom.int, +47 9224-6245