Peter Futo (ed.) Yearbook on Illegal Migration, Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Central and Eastern Europe in 2007 A Survey and Analysis of Border Management and Border Apprehension Data With a Special Survey on illegal migration via air routes International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Vienna · 2008 1 Peter Futo (ed.) 2007 Year Book on Illegal Migration, Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Central and Eastern Europe, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Vienna, 2008 Note of the editor This publication has been prepared with the help of the border and migration services of the States covered. The names of the co-operating authorities are listed at the end of each country chapter. We are very grateful for their co- operation and commitment in answering a long and detailed questionnaire. We also would like to thank to Angelika Mlinar, Akram Mukhamatkulov and the ICMPD research team for preparing the concept of the Special Survey, Tünde Fenyvesi and Liia Karsakova for managing the survey, collecting and translating the incoming contributions. This edition of the Yearbook relies on the analytical approach and on the findings of previous editions. The basic concept of the series and the underlying methodology of the questionnaire-based surveys has been elaborated between 1998 and 2007 by editors of previous Yearbooks: Thomas Tass and Michael Jandl. The responsibility for any remaining errors rests solely with the Editor. International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Gonzagagasse 1 A-1010 Vienna Austria www.icmpd.org © International Centre for Migration Policy Development 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission of the copyright owners. Country maps and the figures for country areas and country populations were taken from the following publication: The 2008 World Factbook, which was published by the Central Intelligence Agency, Washington D.C. Data collection and survey management carried out by Mixolid Statistical Consultancy, Budapest. Printed and bound in Hungary. ISBN: 3-900411-18-2 2 Contents INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................5 IRREGULAR MIGRATION FLOWS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IN 2007............................................................................................................................................ 6 ILLEGAL MIGRATION VIA AIR ROUTES .................................................................... 34 COUNTRY CHAPTERS....................................................................................................... 43 ALBANIA................................................................................................................................ 43 ARMENIA ............................................................................................................................... 50 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA .................................................................................................. 55 BULGARIA.............................................................................................................................. 67 CROATIA................................................................................................................................ 77 CYPRUS.................................................................................................................................. 85 CZECH REPUBLIC ................................................................................................................... 91 ESTONIA .............................................................................................................................. 103 GEORGIA.............................................................................................................................. 115 HUNGARY ............................................................................................................................ 122 KOSOVO............................................................................................................................... 134 LATVIA ................................................................................................................................ 140 LITHUANIA........................................................................................................................... 147 POLAND ............................................................................................................................... 155 ROMANIA............................................................................................................................. 170 SERBIA................................................................................................................................. 179 SLOVAKIA............................................................................................................................ 187 SLOVENIA ............................................................................................................................ 198 TURKEY ............................................................................................................................... 207 UKRAINE.............................................................................................................................. 216 OUTLINE OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES ........................................................................ 227 3 4 Introduction This is the 11th edition of the Yearbook on Illegal Migration, Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Central and Eastern Europe, published annually by ICMPD. The series aims to comprehensively document and analyse irregular migration trends in the CEE region. The main sources of information of the Yearbooks are questionnaire-based surveys among border management and migration management authorities of the region. These organisations possess authentic information about the actual changes that take place in cross-border flows of irregular migration, about the illegal activities of smugglers and traffickers in humans, moreover, about the policies implemented against these phenomena. The recent enlargement of the EU and in particular, the enlargement of the Schengen Zone of free movement of persons has affected both migration flows and the strategies of border guards and migration management authorities. In 2007 the contributing countries of the region have reported that the overall number of migration related border apprehensions has decreased to 175.000. Over the last decade we have witnessed a well-documented tendency that in the CEE region this indicator has decreased every year, despite continuing economic hardship and the flaring up of political crises in the countries of origin of migrants. On the other hand compared to the previous year the overall number of removals of unauthorised foreigners from the countries of the CEE region has significantly increased in 2007, and has surpassed 70.000. In the context of increasing diversification of migration flows and related long- distance migration the focus of this edition of the yearbook is to learn more about whether and how this development is reflected in the respective statistics on a comparative regional level. In this regard this years yearbook contains a Special Survey among Border Guard Services about illegal migration on air routes. The Yearbook forms an important part of ICMPD’s services to Member States and to the border- and migration management community by facilitating information exchange, by offering reliable, indicator-based analyses. I want to thank for the contribution and co-operation of the participating Border Services who provided most of the underlying data and information and also to the editors, collaborators and supporting ICMPD staff for their dedicated work. Gottfried Zürcher Director General, ICMPD 5 Irregular1 migration flows in Central and Eastern Europe in 2007 Empirical basis As in previous years, the present overview is based on a yearly survey covering the activities of border services of Central and Eastern European countries with regard to illegal migration, human smuggling and trafficking. The Survey was conducted between April and July 2008. The primary data of the Yearbook originate from the contributions of 20 border services and migration authorities. Each of the individual contributions consists of the following parts: • Qualitative part. The responding authorities have sent their qualitative reports on the legal and institutional development of migration policy, border management and its political context. These observations were complemented by their observations on the main characteristics of smugglers, smuggling organisations, and finally of smuggled and trafficked persons. • Quantitative part. All responding authorities have sent some kind of statistical tables on migration, with special emphasis on indicators of illegal migration, covering the years 2006 and 2007. • Questions about illegal migration by air routes. Moreover, in 2008 the majority of respondents have completed a Special Questionnaire on the use of commercial airlines for illegal migration movements. Statistics referring to the preceding years are based on the information compiled in previous ICMPD Yearbooks on Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Central