On 24 November 2021, ICMPD organised the senior expert roundtable “More, better or it does not matter? The promise of legal pathways as a means to reduce irregular migration” to discuss linkages between regular and irregular migration and implications for migration policy.  The meeting brought together senior experts and practitioners from EU and ICMPD Member States, public institutions, academia and think tanks.

Participants engaged in a fruitful exchange of experiences and views on how different aspects of migration dynamics affect the interplay between legal pathways and irregular migration, examining the research base as well as policy arguments. Specifically, the focus was on whether expanding legal pathways leads to a decrease in irregular migration, and if yes, in what ways.

This meeting was organised within the framework of ICMPD’s Annual Policy Initiative (API), which addresses a different key issue in the current migration debate each year in order to identify pragmatic ways forward at both the policy and operational levels. Now in its third year, the API 2021 focuses on addressing irregular migration – what works and what does not, including whole-of-route approaches. To this end, the API is holding a series of discussions and consultations throughout the year to identify policy options for addressing irregular arrivals along key migration routes.

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation with 19 Member States and more than 460 staff members. Active in more than 90 countries worldwide, it takes a regional approach in its work to create efficient cooperation and partnerships along migration routes. 

For more information

Press release

ICMPD

API 2021