Soderköping Process Workshop o n Return and Readmission Kiev, 28-29 November 2005

1. Assisted voluntary return as a component in prevention of illegal migration flows: the case of Lithuania Soderköping Process Workshop on Return and Readmission Kiev, 28-29 November 2005

2. Introduction – why AVR was necessary • Illegal migration problem started in Lithuania at the beginning of 90-ties • Increasing number of illegal migrants detained • Lithuania ill prepared technically and financially to resolve the problem

3. Voluntary return projects implemented by IOM Vilnius: • Capacity Building in Migration Management in the Baltic States(with the component of voluntary return), May 1997 – September 1998, – funded by governments of US and Finland. Budget 722,413 USD. • Return Operations of Irregular Migrants from Pabrade, December 1997 – June 1998, - funded by governments of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Budget 355,742 USD. • Voluntary Return of Stranded Migrants in the Baltic States, October 1998 – 31 December 2002, - funded by governments of US and Finland. Budget 420,543 USD. • Assisted Voluntary return and reintegration of Unsuccessful Asylum Seekers from Lithuania, 17 November 2004 – 31 December 2005,- funded by ERF and Lithuanian Ministry of Interior. Budget 93,886 EUR

4. The IOM implemented voluntary return programmes had few purposes: • To offer irregular migrants from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and CIS countries stranded in Baltic countries the possibility and means of returning home safely and in dignity. • To lessen the burden that the large number of stranded migrants pose on transit counties, as well as to help reduce the flow of irregular migration to Western Europe. • To strengthen the ability of the authorities in Lithuania to better manage migration and to approximate to European Union standards and practices in Return. • To facilitate the return of unsuccessful asylum seekers residing in Lithuania who do not have other means to organize their own return home.

5. Number of returnees by countries of origin

6. After 2000 two major changes showed up in the regional patterns of irregular migration to Lithuania: • Lithuania was increasingly turning from transit into destination country of migrants, mainly seeking for protection here (mostly Chechens). • Increasing number of irregular migrants from Russia and other CIS countries, not just “traditional” remote sending states in Asia and Africa;

7. Distribution of returnees by country of origin

8. The voluntary return programme is made up of a package of IOM services, such as: • Information dissemination about the programme and pre-departure counselling; • Arrangement of documentation for the return; • Transportation arrangement, transit and arrival assistance (if needed) • A modest financial assistance to facilitate reintegration; • Escort of larger migrant groups, especially vulnerable migrant categories, including medical escorts; • Co-ordination between national authorities, international organizations and NGOs.

9. Results and impact: • Illegal migration to Lithuania has significantly decreased • Lithuania stopped being of easy transit country for illegal migrants • Voluntary return with IOM was more acceptable than deportations • AVR helped to cope with the problem of growing numbers of detained illegal migrants in reception centres

10. Voluntary return projects act as an additional tool in the fight against organized crime Return operations also act to some extent as an information campaign against illegal migration for other compatriots but also for traffickers

11. Conclusion A wider and comprehensive regional migration management approach – dealing not only with the consequences of irregular migration but its causes and prevention – has to be developed by IOM, including the transfer of EU member states’ expertise to the CIS neighbour countries

12. Thank you for your attention For contacts: Ramunė Čiurlionytė IOM Vilnius Jakšto str. 12, Vilnius E-mail: ramune@iom.elnet.lt