The Mobility Partnership Newsletter Issue #5

A biannual newsletter published by the MOBILAZE project

Dear reader! Mobility Partnership overview Migration management is a pressing issue for many countries in the contemporary world that counts for Mobility Partnership (MP) remains more than 258 million internation- one of the most comprehensive al migrants. While providing people mechanisms of cooperation between with numerous benefits and oppro- the European Union, EU Member tunities migration can also cause se- States (MS) and third countries rious problems when it is not proper- on a broad range of migration and ly regulated. Due to this one of the mobility issues, including migration priorities for the countries worldwide management, trafficking in human is to provide safe, orderly and legal beings, visa policy, readmission, migration processes. border management, and asylum and international protection. Glob- The “Land of Fire” – Azerbaijan locat- ally, there are nine Mobility Part- ed on the crossroad between East Vusal Huseynov and West and characterized by its In this issue: rapid socio-economic growth, global its participating Member States”. We energy and infrastructure projects consider that successful results have Mobility Partnership overview 1 and multicultural values became at- been yielded within the EU-funded Azerbaijan launches electronic and mobile tractive destination country for for- project “Support to the Implemen- residency 2 eigners and statless persons. The fa- tation of the Mobility Partnership Component 1 (research and analytical cilitated migration rules play a pivotal with Azerbaijan” (MOBILAZE) jointly capacity building) 2 role in terms of raising attractivenes implemented with the International Component 2 (Legal and Labour Migration) 3 of the country from tourism, labor mi- Center for Migration Policy Devel- gration and investments perspective. opment (ICMPD) in the framework Component 3 (Document Security) 4 of the Joint Declaration. The State Component 4 (International Protection) 5 Recent developments in tourism Migration Service as the main bene- Component 5 (Return and Reintegration) 6 and provision of favourable busi- ficiary has been actively participating ness environment in the Republic of in the implementation of all activities MOBILAZE Project Management 7 Azerbaijan are under the spotlight. under the components of this project. Azerbaijan simplifies regulations on legal The Government of Azerbaijan has status of foreigners and stateless persons 7 been taking profound actions for and We are interested to continue effec- Summer School: The MOBILAZE and achieving positive results in devel- tive cooperation both with the EU ENIGMMA projects cooperate 8 opment of these spheres. and ICMPD not only within the ac- MOBILAZE project extended until July 2019 8 tivities envisaged by the MOBILAZE All these factors have an impact project but also in other directions MOBILAZE project at the Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition 2018 on rise in the number of foreigners of mutual interest like effective mi- 8 and stateless persons arriving in gration management, regulation of EuroVillage Baku 2018 9 Azerbaijan from various countries emigration processes, document se- European Days in Nakhchivan 9 worldwide with the purpose of tour- curity, reintegration support to the re- ICMPD launches RESTART pilot project ism, residence or employment. In its admitted citizens of Azerbaijan, etc. 10 turn it necessitates managing and Azerbaijani citizens in the EU 10 regulating migration processes and We believe that such initiatives will Ms. Katja Lovén: Mother. Wife. Resident enhancing cooperation in this area. trigger positive impact of migration Twinning Advisor, Air Quality Expert. Finnish on development. citizen 10 One of the significant steps taken Mobility Partnership in Georgia 11 in this regard is the signing of “Joint Vusal Huseynov Mobility Partnership in Moldova Declaration on a Mobility Partnership 11 between the Republic of Azerbaijan Chief of the State Migration Service Prague Process: 2018 Highlights 12 and the European Union (EU) and of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mobility Partnership Facility 12

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 2 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 nerships established between the erlands, and Slovakia). The one- the Decree of the President of Azer- EU and partner countries. The Joint and-half-day Conference provided baijan of 27 August 2018, all diplo- Declaration on a Mobility Partnership enough room and opportunity for matic missions and consulates of the between the Republic of Azerbaijan informal collaboration between the country are empowered to issue an and the Union and the participating participants to generate new ideas ‘Asan İmza’ (mobile-ID) certificate to MS was signed in December 2013. for cooperation and future initiatives. citizens from all over the world wish- The success and positive achieve- ing to conduct business in Azerbaijan ments of the implementation of an or invest in the national economy. MP are determined mainly by the full commitment of all parties involved Azerbaijan launches The Electronic (e-Residency) and and the initiatives/projects funded electronic and mobile mobile (m-Residency) programmes and implemented under the MP. residency were both launched on 24 October 2018 in Baku at an event devoted to The second International Mobility the building of a Digital Trade Hub in Partnership Conference in Azerbai- Azerbaijan has implemented an elec- Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has become jan was organised by ICMPD in Baku tronic and mobile residency project to the second country after Estonia to on May 14-15, 2018. This Confer- provide a digital mobile and electron- launch an e-Residency programme ence took stock of the second year ic identity for citizens of other coun- aimed at provision of easy, fast and of MOBILAZE project implementa- tries, with the aim of doing business reliable services to foreign investors tion, but most importantly served as in Digital Azerbaijan. According to and businesses. a platform to discuss MP priorities for the future and follow-up initiatives in different areas of migration and mobility, including in the East- ern Partnership region. Conference participants came from the Azerbai- jani project partners (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Ser- vice, the State Migration Service, the Ministry of Education, and the Minis- try of Labour and Social Protection of the Population) and other state institutions, as well as the EU Dele- gation to Azerbaijan, representatives from Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the migration and border authorities of Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, and project partner representatives from the participating EU MS (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Neth-

Component 1 (research and • Migration Research Methods educational games and group ex- analytical capacity building) (February and December); ercises; exceptional lecturers; and relevant migration topics, selected in • Migration and Gender (March); close cooperation with Azerbaijan’s The MOBILAZE project continues State Migration Service (SMS). to organise lectures, seminars and • Migration and Conflict (May); other educational activities on mi- Lectures on world migration trends gration for students, young grad- • World Migration Trends (October); (October); migration and security uates and professionals. In 2018, (November); and on-the-spot training eight Migration Studies Weekends • Migration and Security (Novem- on analytical issues of data collection and Migration Research Methods ber); and analysis and visualisation tools Workshops were organised. During (December) were also organised for each of these events, two full days • Migration Governance (Decem- representatives of the SMS. were dedicated to migration lectures ber). and interactive seminars introducing Through the excellent contacts es- participants to relevant topics within The Migration Studies Weekends tablished during the project with the migration studies, such as: proved to be highly successful Mobility Partnership EU states, state among participants. At the heart of representatives from Azerbaijan had • Integration and Citizenship (Feb- this success lay: an interactive ap- the opportunity to participate in two ruary); proach, combining lecturing with internships at ministries in Poland,

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 3

working on migration data collection (September) and diaspora and mi- nority relations issues (December).

Traditionally the project’s most important migration education activity, this year’s Summer School was organised in cooperation with the EU-funded “Sustaining Migration Management in Georgia” (ENIGM- MA 2) project, in July 2018. You can find a separate article on this unique exercise elsewhere in this newsletter.

Upcoming activities:

ºº Migration Studies Weekends and lectures at the SMS;

ºº Summer School, July 2019.

Component 2 (Legal and eral Eastern Partnership countries, • Support further initiatives within Labour Migration) including Belarus, Georgia and Mol- the MP and other forms of coop- dova (these countries also have an eration between EU and Azerbai- MP with the EU) and Ukraine. The jani instruments; One of the most important activities main aim of the conference was to of Component 2 – the International bring the fulfilment of the MP objec- • Strengthen expert exchange and Mobility Partnership (MP) Confer- tives in Azerbaijan to a multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan ence – took place in Baku on 14-15 and regional setting, so as to: and other MP countries in migra- May 2018. Being an exceptional tion management areas; platform for exchange on MP im- • Take stock of MP implementation plementation among Eastern Part- in Azerbaijan through the MOBI- • Assess the impact of the MP in nership countries, the Conference LAZE project (and other endeav- Azerbaijan and discuss possible gathered representatives from vari- ours); measures for improvement. ous state institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the EU Delegation to • Benefit from the experience of Within the frame of Component 2 Azerbaijan and EU Member States those MP countries that have in 2018 the MOBILAZE project also (signatories of the MP with Azerbai- valuable experience to share; continued its efforts in rendering sup- jan), ICMPD and other international port for the foreign labour demand organisations, and representatives • Facilitate exchange on effective determination reform in Azerbaijan. from the migration authorities of sev- tools for monitoring MP results; The study Determination of the De-

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 4 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 mand for Foreign Labour Force in migration and mobility between the Upcoming activities: the Labour Market of Azerbaijan EU and Azerbaijan were also under- was released last year and this year taken by the project in 2018. These ºº Practical Guidelines on For- the team of international and nation- came in the form of participation at eign Labour Demand Determi- al experts started work on Practical the 12th International Education nation: release and presentation Guidelines on Foreign Labour Exhibition on 11-13 October and in Baku, first quarter of 2019; Demand Determination to suggest the presentation of the updated edi- concrete ways forward in implemen- tion of the brochure Studying in the ºº International Mobility Confer- tation of the reform. The publication EU: What you need to know before ence, in Baku, late June 2019. will be available early 2019. leaving Azerbaijan to study in the EU (summarising visa and residency Two activities which further contrib- regulations for Azerbaijani students uted to awareness raising on legal studying in the EU).

Component 3 (Document Component 3 also offered sever- Security) al capacity building activities, among which the Interactive Com- munication Workshop for Female Several implemented activities (such Representatives should receive as training of trainers, supported special mention. Held in March, the pilot trainings, national trainings, event brought together female rep- worskhops, study visits) – all jointly resentatives from the Azerbaijani undertaken by Azerbaijani nation- State Border Service (SBS) and and al experts and international experts the State Migration Service (SMS), from the Czech Republic, Lithuania the State Customs Committee, the and the Netherlands – have this Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the year led to the development of vari- State Phytosanitary and Veterinary ous forms of tailor-made manuals on Control Services. Together with fe- document security: male experts from both ICMPD and • The Pocket Vocabulary for Border the Czech Republic, participants • The textbook Travel Documents: and Migration Control (in Azerbai- exchanged information aimed at Security Features, Production jani, English, Russian, French, increasing the effectivity of the ex- Technologies and Examination; Chinese, Urdu, and Arabic); ternal and internal duties carried out by female officers, and shared tips • The related Training Manual with • The Training E-tool delivered as on daily tasks. Sample Curricula designed to an off-line version (on specially teach the material laid out in the designed and produced USBs), Azerbaijani experts on document textbook; with an online version and training security from both the SBS and the e-tool application for smartphones. SMS took part in two study visits to

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 5

EU Member States in 2018, to Slo- Two trainings on profiling and vakia and Poland. The focus of the identification were organised, in visits was an exchange of best prac- Baku during February, and Nakh- tices in document security from the chivan in September, to share knowl- strategic and operational perspec- edge on both the theoretical back- tives. Participants were introduced ground and operational experience to the daily duties of EU experts at of EU/national practices. Participants the regional level and those carried from the SBS and the SMS agencies out at selected green and air bor- exchanged good practices in the field der crossing points. The events also with Dutch and Czech experts. focused on the respective training system and an introduction to Po- Upcoming activities: lice/Border Guard colleges, which offered an opportunity to attain infor- ºº Report on implemented Study mation on best practices in teaching Visits including recommenda- methods and training curricula. tions.

Component 4 (International and refugee cases were presented On 22 May 2018, the SMS or- Protection) and solved during the training. This ganised a meeting of the Work- was the second such training for ing Group, where representatives judges organised in the frame of the from 12 government agency mem- Component 4 of the MOBILAZE pro- MOBILAZE project. bers, ICMPD, UNHCR and a Pub- ject is being implemented in close lic Council reviewed and adopted cooperation with the State Migration On 29 March 2018, in cooperation the final version of the Roadmap. Service (SMS) and the United Na- with the SMS and UNHCR, ICMPD ICMPD presented the conclusions tions High Commissioner for Ref- presented the draft Recommenda- of the Roadmap and reiterated its ugees (UNHCR). Several capacity tions for the Roadmap to Refugee readiness to continue its support in building activities were organised Integration Policy in Azerbaijan, out- enhancing the capacity of Working during 2018. lining this new concept to represent- Group members and developing in- atives from government institutions dividual integration plans covering In February, a two-day training for and ministries. Prominent among housing, employment, health and judges from the Supreme Court of the topics discussed were sharing education. The Roadmap (availa- Azerbaijan, the Baku Court of Appeal EU Member States experience in the ble in both English and Azerbaijani) and the Baku Administrative-Eco- areas of refugee integration, support can be downloaded here: https:// nomic Court was organised with the for capacity building at the SMS and www.icmpd.org/fileadmin/1_2018/ aim of enhancing judges’ knowledge other members of the Working Group Roadmap_to_Refugee_Integration_ on the legal framework of the Gene- on the Integration of Refugees, and in_AZ_EN_PRINT.pdf. va Convention, the European Con- identification of further needs of rel- vention on Human Rights, the role of evant government institutions. After the judiciary, and the general princi- the presentation, the draft roadmap ples of court procedure for granting was adjusted and amended to take refugee status, etc. Special asylum into account the feedback provided.

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 6 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018

Upcoming activities

ºº Developing a Standard Operat- ing Procedures (SOPs) document for the SMS;

ºº Public presentation of the SOPs to the SMS and other relevant government institutions;

ºº Further support in capacity building for the Working Group on the Integration of Refugees.

Component 5 (Return and the relevant state agencies (includ- 2018. The training focused on tech- Reintegration) ing further referral of returnees and niques to establish the citizenship further development of the reintegra- and identity of potential returnees tion framework in Azerbaijan). The and was facilitated by two experts The Working Group (WG) on Re- interagency WG was established in from the Expertise Centre for Aliens, integration Issues of readmitted December 2016 in the frame of the Identification and Human Trafficking Azerbaijani nationals held its third MOBILAZE project, upon recom- of the Dutch Police. It also enjoyed and fourth meetings in 2018. The mendations from ICMPD. In coordi- the active participation of a total of WG is led by the State Migration nation with the relevant Azerbaijani 22 officials from relevant Azerbaijani Service and comprises all relevant state institutions, the project further state institutions. ministries/state bodies, namely, the supported the WG through devel- Ministry of Health, the Ministry of oping and printing information bro- An assessment of post-arrival needs Education, the Ministry of Labour chures for returnees and providing for vocational training and Azerbaija- and Social Protection of the Popula- capacity building activities for the ni language skills among readmitted tion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, state institutions. nationals was implemented in Janu- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ary and February 2018, with the sup- State Customs Committee, and the Based on gaps and needs identified port of the ICMPD national expert. State Border Service, as well as the at the WG meetings, the project or- The report covered the full data of ICMPD and International Organiza- ganised a two-day capacity build- the needs and interests of 61 return- tion for Migration representatives re- ing training on returnee interview ees (26 families). Based on demon- sponsible for coordination between techniques in Baku on May 7-8 strated interest among the respond-

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 7 ents, two Azerbaijani returnees (one male and one female) were identified and provided with an opportunity to attend a five-month course in mar- keting and sales management, as a pilot activity covered by the project. In this way, targeted post-arrival vocational training for readmitted Azerbaijani nationals was provided. Upon completion of the course, the returnees received a diploma and further support in job coaching.

Upcoming activities

ºº Further support for the interagency WG on Reintegration Issues;

ºº Institutional knowledge building on interview techniques and procedures;

ºº Support for awareness raising among returned migrants and potential returnees.

ponents, but both agreed on and de- Centers in Baku and Sumqayit in MOBILAZE Project signed specific project activities and parallel with the regional migration Management the involvement of EU experts. offices and via online registration.

Under the relevant amendments, The 5th Project Steering Group if the grounds for cancellation of a (PSG) meeting was held in August, Azerbaijan simplifies foreigner or stateless person’s resi- in Baku. The PSG is an external pro- regulations on legal status dence/stay or work permission in the ject governance and management of foreigners and stateless country are removed, the ban on that structure that gathers together rep- persons person entering the country will be resentatives from the EU Delegation lifted. In addition, the provision envis- to Azerbaijan, ICMPD, and EU Mem- aging a five-year ban on the entry of ber State project partner embassies In accordance with amendments to foreigners and stateless persons has participating in the project, as well the Migration Code of the Republic been abolished. In the old version of as coordinators from Azerbaijani in- of Azerbaijan that entered into force the Migration Code, if a foreigner or stitutions. During the meeting, the in July 2018, the period for foreign- stateless person has been brought strategic impact and directions of the ers and stateless persons to reg- to administrative responsibility twice Action, in terms of the achievement ister their place of residence was or more times in the last three years of objectives and establishment of increased from 10 to 15 days (after for violating migration legislation, his expected results, were evaluated. arrival in the country). Registration entry into the country is restricted for Corrective measures to ensure the is carried out at the ASAN Service a period of five years. continuing relevance and impact of the project were also taken, and project reports submitted by the ICMPD team before their official submission to the donor approved.

The Project Coordination Team Meeting was organised in Febru- ary, in Vienna, as an internal project management structure consisting of the project coordinators from the EU implementing partners and the IC- MPD coordinators. During the meeting, the participants not only agreed on the modalities of the joint coordination of the project’s specific com-

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 8 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018

Summer School: The journalists, and workers from NGOs, MOBILAZE and ENIGMMA government bodies and international projects cooperate organisations.

Robert McNeil, Deputy Director of To the background of migration de- the Migration Observatory at the bates causing political turmoil around University of Oxford, and a profes- the world, nearly 50 young people from sor at the Summer School, said of Azerbaijan and Georgia met leading the event: “Migration is the defining international migration experts in July issue of our time. Both Azerbaijan 2018 for a week-long intensive train- and Georgia face opportunities and ing course for developing skills that challenges as a result of this, from will help shape the future of migration economic development to migrant policy in the South Caucasus. Profes- integration – as well as dealing with sors from the Universities of Oxford, emigration issues. The young peo- Maastricht, and Amsterdam, as well ple we have been teaching can play as the Sorbonne and the University of a critical role in ensuring that both MOBILAZE project extended Vienna were joined by ICMPD repre- countries develop the best migration until July 2019 sentatives to provide training on key practices they can in the future.” principles in migration debates. These included the role of media, human Participants learned the critical differ- The MOBILAZE project officially rights, law, economics, nationality is- ences between ‘migrants’, ‘refugees’ started on 15 January 2016 and was sues and international development. and ‘asylum seekers’, while also designed to last 36 months, finishing studying how migration affects econ- in January 2019. However, in line Those young people participating omies; how to visualise migration with the priorities of the cooperation in the event in Qakh, Azerbaijan data; international migration law; and between the EU and Azerbaijan, were aged between 20 and 26, and the interaction between media, public and given that there are budgetary comprised, among others, students, attitudes and migration policy making. savings available, the EU Delega- tion to Azerbaijan has approved a no-cost extension of the project for six more months.

The project will now run until July 2019 and the ICMPD project team together with its partners in Azerbaijan and EU Member States will organise numerous activities during the period between now and then. These will include such important events as the International Mobility Partnership Conference in Baku (in June) and the Summer School on Migration to be held in Georgia (in July).

MOBILAZE project at the Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition 2018

For the second time, the MOBILAZE project has taken part in an international education fair in Azerbaijan. The twelfth edition of the Internation- al Education Exhibition was held in Baku on 11-13 October of this year, gathering together Azerbaijani and international educational institutions, as well as students considering further education in Azerbaijan and abroad.

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 9

The EU Member States, signato- in the EU:What you need to know ed 2018 edition of the Brochure was ries of the EU-Azerbaijan Mobility before leaving Azerbaijan to study presented at the Exhibition. Partnership, are popular destination in the EU. This booklet summarises counties for Azerbaijani students, the visa and entry (as well as resi- Besides the presentation and distri- especially among graduate stu- dence permit) information for the bution of the Brochure, the Project dents. However, not all students are Mobility Partnership countries, fo- Team also carried out face-to-face acquainted with the EU visa and res- cusing on the specific requirements consultations. The target audience idency rules for education purpos- for Azerbaijani citizens wishing to was those students interested in es. So as to eliminate this gap, the study abroad. The publication serves studying in Mobility Partnership MOBILAZE project team and the EU as a guidebook that describes step- countries whom had questions con- legal migration experts developed by-step the relevant processes and cerning entry and residency regula- the Information Brochure Studying application procedures. The updat- tions.

EuroVillage Baku 2018 (ranging in theme from technical assistance, grants on education, and regional development to women rights “EuroVillage 2018” was organised by and human rights initiatives) were the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan in presented at the festival. At the MO- cooperation with the embassies of 20 BILAZE stand, the project team dis- EU Member States and the Finnish tributed project publications, including Honorary Consulate. The event took the second edition of the Information place on 2 June on Baku Boulevard in Brochure Studying in the EU: What the Azerbaijani capital. In addition to you need to know before leaving promoting EU-Azerbaijan relations, Azerbaijan to study in the EU, which the event was held to mark the 100th was distributed to Azerbaijani stu- anniversary of the independence of dents interested in studying in the EU. the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, Besides the EU Delegation, embas- the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation un- sies and local partners, there were der the President, the Association of also numerous entertainment stands Football Federations of Azerbaijan, demonstrating European cook- the Azerbaijan State Gymnasium of ing and dance, providing language Fine Arts and Park Cinema were the classes and storytelling sessions, local partners of the event. and giving master classes in pottery, karaoke, chemistry and physics, The 15 EU-funded projects – includ- face art, etc. The event ended with ing the MOBILAZE project – current- a concert by popular European and ly being implemented in the country Azerbaijani singers.

European Days in with information on cooperation be- for the final evening marked the end Nakhchivan tween Azerbaijan and the European of the festival. The MOBILAZE project Union, as well as European culture, was represented among other initia- tourism and even food. Volunteers tives led by the EU Delegation, and The ICMPD MOBILAZE project could participate in different compe- our team members provided those in team, together with diplomatic repre- titions and win various promotional attendance with information on mobil- sentatives from the EU Delegation to prizes. An open-air concert organised ity and legal migration opportunities. Azerbaijan and EU Member States, attended the “European Days in Na- khchivan” on 21-23 September organised by the Delegation of the Eu- ropean Union to Azerbaijan. Meetings took place with Nakhchivan officials, and local entrepreneurs explained the priorities and perspectives of the EU-Azerbaijan cooperation.

The most memorable event for participating citizens was the „Eurovillage“ festival, where Nakhchivan locals got an opportunity to become acquainted

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 10 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018

ICMPD launches RESTART Azerbaijani citizens in the EU pilot project

My name is Shahla Kazimova and ICMPD has launched in Azerbaijan its I come from Azerbaijan, but I have pilot project Reintegration Support to lived in Poland for 16 years. I am a Azerbaijani Returnees (RESTART), in lecturer of Azerbaijani language and cooperation with the State Migration culture at the University of Warsaw. Service of Azerbaijan and with finan- I originally left Azerbaijan for study cial support from the European Mem- purposes, which was my first trip ber States (EU MS) – particularly the abroad. I was scared to leave my Ministry of Interior of Germany and family, but on the other hand very ex- the Repatriation and Departure Ser- cited. I wrote and defended my doc- vice at the Ministry of Justice of the toral thesis, I started a family, and I Netherlands. The 18-month project is became part of a European society. expected to start in January 2019 and However, my inner world was still aims to support implementation of the formed by the Azerbaijani family. I from the nineteenth century has Readmission Agreements. feel tremendous love for my country been strongly influenced by Euro- and a constant need to share this, pean culture. In this way, Azerbaijan The project will achieve its aims so I bring my students closer to the did not copy European culture, but through strengthening the capacities culture and language of Azerbaijan. combined it with its own. That’s how of both the national authorities and I love to speak about music, art, muğam1 opera came about, muğam civil society in the area of reintegra- holidays and Azerbaijani traditions. jazz, symphonic muğam, beauti- tion in Azerbaijan, to actively facilitate When speaking about Azerbaijan, ful houses in the Gothic style, and the sustainable return from the EU I’m also speaking about myself. My baroque buildings decorated with MS and reintegration of Azerbaijani students are very interested in – and oriental ornaments. It seems to me returnees. This pilot initiative com- often amazed by – such lectures. that, against the background of the plements those activities being car- European nations, we are an east- ried out within the MOBILAZE project Life in Europe has taught me to see ern people, while among the eastern (in particular Component 5 on Return things from a different perspective, societies we are the most European- and Reintegration) and will build on but to respect my own nation’s her- ised. This is, in my opinion, one of the results achieved so far (i.e. es- itage at the same time. Instead of the reasons that Azerbaijan is quick- tablishment of the Working Group on complaining about stereotypes, I be- ly integrating with Europe, because Reintegration; development of infor- gan to fight them. How? Explaining, its values are not alien to us. mation materials for returnees and telling. I soon felt that any complex- awareness raising; capacity building es I may have had were disappear- activities for the state institutions in ing, too. When I translate the sym- Azerbaijan). Alongside other aims, bolism of Azerbaijan’s flag, it shows the project is specifically targeted to- the identity of my nation very aptly. wards providing direct assistance to We have a very rich heritage from 1 Muğam is one of the many traditional forms vulnerable Azerbaijani returnees. the Muslim, Turkic Orient, which of music from Azerbaijan.

I moved to Baku with my family types of landscapes and nature can Ms. Katja Lovén: Mother. (husband, daughter, son and dog) be seen in one country. In addition to Wife. Resident Twinning at the end of 2016. Time has gone Baku, I have visited Ganja, Sumgait, Advisor, Air Quality Expert. by fast and living in Azerbaijan has Quba, Shahdag, Shamakhi, Sheki Finnish citizen. been a very interesting experience and Gobustan. On leaving Baku city and adventure. centre, one soon encounters many animals, such as cows, horses and As Resident Twinning Advisor I work sheep, all walking around freely. I closely with the Ministry of Ecology often wonder how the owners find and Natural Resources, the project their animals at the end of the day. partner for our EU-funded Twin- It is a good example of how organic ning project. I supervise the project livestock farming is here. implementation, which aims to im- prove Azerbaijan’s environmental I have enjoyed living in Baku, which performance by supporting the mod- is mixture of historical, old and mod- ernisation of its air quality monitor- ern architecture, with many parks in ing systems. the city centre. Baku Boulevard is one of my favourite places to go for Azerbaijan is beautiful country, with a Sunday run. On very clear days a variety of different landscapes. It the view from Flag Square of the city amazes me how so many different and the waterfront are amazing. One

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018 11 negative side of such a big city is the for professions and quotas on the Mobility Partnership in heavy traffic. I wish getting around French labour market. The agree- Moldova by bike could be made easier, as the ment also foresees granting tempo- distances in the city centre (and the rary residence permits to Georgian climate) would be perfect for cycling. students and specialists, facilitating In 2018, Moldova has been celebrat- exchange and boosting the qualifica- ing 10 years of prosperous imple- I will return to Finland in five months’ tions of young specialists. mentation of the Mobility Partner- time. There are many things that I will ship (MP) with the European Union. surely miss after my return; mostly, The High-Level Mobility Partnership Not only the results, best practices, the warm and sunny weather, the meetings and the EU-Georgia Mo- and lessons learnt, but also the nu- taste of fresh fruits and vegetables, bility Partnership Local Cooperation merous meetings and rapid chang- freshly baked tendirs, roosters crow- Platform have served as an essen- es in the migration agenda over the ing in the early morning, and many tial cooperation instrument for estab- past decade are reflected in the evo- good friends and colleagues. During lishing direct links with EU Member lution of the MP platform. my time in Azerbaijan I have learnt States and achieving a deeper un- that words or a common language derstanding of the visa liberalisation For Moldova, the initiatives that are are not always needed for commu- granted to Georgia. This is done considered successful in implement- nication. Solidarity, hospitality and a through promoting legal migration ing the MP aim at facilitating legal friendly attitude can get you far. and underlining the importance of migration and mobility, taking on facilitating tourism, educational pro- experience in implementing circular grammes and circular migration. migration schemes, and turning migration into tangible benefits for the Mobility Partnership in Georgia continues to put a special country’s development. Lately the Georgia emphasis on the scheme develop- importance of placing the approach ing “circular migration” within the to migration in the local context has framework of the MP. According to also been underlined, as well as In Georgia, the EU-Georgia Mobility the Minister of Justice of Georgia, the increased role of the Diaspora Partnership (MP) instrument is under- Mrs. Thea Tsulukiani: “The circu- in the context of migration policy. stood as one of the most important lar migration means to support our Since signing the MP, Moldova has directions in Georgia-EU relations, competent labour force to travel registered significant achievements aiming at strengthening cooperation to the EU Member States, expand in terms of institutional building, in- with the EU by improving the mecha- professional experience in the most creased coordination (particularly nisms for migration flow management demanded fields that face shortage concerning internal coordination and legal travel whilst addressing the of labour in the Member State and among agencies), legal reforms, and issue of illegal migration. return to Georgia in order to benefit policy development. the latter by transferring the gained One significant step within the MP competences back home.” A new stage of the MP started with cooperation has been the agree- the tool’s deep evaluation exercis- ment between Georgia and France We believe that the MP has the po- es to assess its impact and further on Circular Migration and Residence tential to move towards better dia- steps, and the launching of the MP of Professional Workers, signed in logue and monitoring, thus remain- Facility Instrument with the support 2013. The main component of the ing the key framework for the EU of ICMPD. EU Member States now agreement established legal employ- and Georgia in steering migration started to be more active towards ment opportunities for Georgian citi- and mobility issues. mobility initiatives with MP countries; zens in accordance with the demand with the piloting of new and innova- tive solutions to migration challenges, e-learning platforms for capacity building, and more efficient commu- nication making the tool more flexible and alive.

The EU has referred to the MP with Moldova as an opportunity for concrete outcomes through 100 implemented projects, in this regards Moldova is becoming a model for other states. For more details and terms of reference please see: http:// www.mfa.gov.md/mobility-partnership-en/.

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 12 The Mobility Partnership Newsletter No.5 - December 2018

Prague Process: 2018 Mobility Partnership Facility • Operationalisation of MP and Highlights CAMM Joint Declarations through targeted Actions (Strand A); The Mobility Partnership Facility • Horizontal activities support- Established in 2009, the Prague Pro- (MPF) is an EU-funded initiative ing MP and CAMM constitu- cess is an intergovernmental migra- contributing to the operationalisation ents (Strand B); tion dialogue bringing together 50 of the Global Approach to Migra- • Political dialogues and processes states from Europe and Asia. The tion and Mobility (GAMM). It is im- – the third phase of the Prague “Prague Process: Data, Analyses and plemented by ICMPD. Launched in Process (Strand C); Training in Action” initiative (PP DATA) January 2016 and now in its second • Pilot projects in the area of legal was launched in 2018 as part of the phase, the MPF continues to provide migration with selected partner second phase of the Mobility Partner- EU Member States (MS) and part- countries (Strand D). ship Facility (MPF) programme. This ner countries with the opportunity to year marked the launching of both the better cooperate under the frame- The MPF is an opportunity for EU MS Prague Process Migration Obser- works of the Mobility Partnerships and partner countries to further ad- vatory (MO), which mainly serves the (MPs) and the Common Agendas vance their operational and political production of concise analytical pub- on Migration and Mobility (CAMMs), cooperation through a wide range of lications on a variety of migration pol- through targeted, flexible and tai- activities: training sessions (including icy priorities from across the Prague lor-made assistance. Via MPF Calls technical equipment), peer-to-peer Process region, and the Training for Proposals with open deadlines, expertise, research, study visits, Academy providing advanced train- EU MS and partner countries can conferences, expert meetings, re- ing for state officials and training ma- submit requests for grants, with an view and development of legislation, terials for independently organising opportunity for non-governmental awareness raising activities, etc. trainings at national level. organisations and private law bodies to be involved as co-applicants. For more information on the MPF, The Advanced Training on Asylum MPF II is built around four strands: see: www.icmpd.org/mpf held in June in Rome, Italy focused on credibility assessment, being one of the most challenging aspects in Dear colleagues and friends, asylum decision making, and was highly commended by participants This third year of MOBILAZE implementation is already coming to an end, for providing the opportunity to (con- and we will be facing into the project’s finalisation come 2019. We all know tinue to) advance their knowledge. that success requires effort and this year of hard and dedicated work has proved this once again. The Training on Combatting Traf- ficking in Human Beings held in It is with great pleasure that I address you on behalf of the ICMPD project November in Baku targeted less team and the implementing partners, and express our wishes to each of you, experienced state officials, looking alongside our sincere gratitude for your great cooperation throughout 2018. at understanding, identifying and re- The new year is about new heights and new achievements, new experiences sponding to trafficking cases. and new acquaintances, and we believe that through mutual persistence and continued collaboration we can achieve even more in this coming year! The Workshop on Data Gather- ing, Analysis and Dissemination Work is an essential part of life and a good source of accomplishment and brought together over 70 participants peace of mind which influences our overall well-being and happiness. With and data experts in Skopje, Macedo- this in mind, we would like to wish you both personal and professional growth nia in October, and resulted, among in the coming year; career development, truthful satisfaction, warm and trust- others outcomes, in the decision to filled relationships – and increased wealth! organise a training on migration data. The MO also established a pool of Happy New Year! state and academic experts, whom met at a Research Coordination Meet- ing in June 2018 and have since been Ms. Violeta Wagner, MOBILAZE Project Coordinator working on over a dozen analytical [email protected] products addressing priority issues International Centre for Migration Policy Development for migration policy development in Gonzagagasse 1, A-1010 Vienna, Austria the non-EU participating states. www.icmpd.org Mr. Elnur Nasibov, MOBILAZE National Project Manager The annual Prague Process Senior World Business Centre Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in Prague in December, gathering Intersection of Samad Vurghun and Suleyman Rahimov streets senior policy makers to discuss recent AZ1014 Baku, Azerbaijan migration policy developments and [email protected] the most pressing challenges ahead. https://www.facebook.com/ICMPDinAzerbaijan/ The SOM allowed identification of Don’t hesitate to send your feedback to the MOBILAZE Project Team at concrete cooperation and project ide- [email protected]. as for future initiatives in the region.

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by ICMPD

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.