IOM, the European Commission (EC) services and the European
External Action Service (EEAS) formally strengthened their
partnership on 13th July in an exchange of letters between IOM
Director General William Lacy Swing and EU Ambassador Mariangela
Zappia in Geneva.

“This exchange establishes a new era of strategic
collaboration between IOM, the EC and the EEAS on migration,
development, humanitarian and human rights issues for the mutual
benefit of all stakeholders,” said Ambassador Swing,
following the meeting at the European Union Delegation offices in
Geneva.

 

EU Ambassador Mariangela Zappia said: “This is a good day for
us. I am very satisfied to be able to mark today, together with
you, yet another step towards a further deepening of our relations
so as to foster dialogue and cooperation on key issues, which are
being taken ahead by our both services.”

Building on a shared interest in bringing the benefits of well
managed international migration to migrants and governments, the
IOM-EU letters lay out a framework for a strategic partnership that
will serve as a basis for the further exchanges, development and
structuring of the relationship between IOM and the EU.

The EU letter to IOM was signed by Stefano Manservisi, Director
General Home Affairs, Fokion Fotiadis, Director General DEVCO,
Claus Sørensen, Director General ECHO in the European
Commission, and Pierre Vimont, Executive Secretary General of the
EEAS.

The main objectives of the partnership are to enhance dialogue
and consolidate cooperation between IOM and the European Commission
services (DG Home Affairs, DG DEVCO/EuropeAid and DG ECHO), the
European External Action Service (EEAS) on each others' policy,
legislative and operational initiatives, research and data, lessons
learned and best practices. 

The key stated areas of mutual interest to be pursued between
IOM and the EU include: capacity building for migration governance,
immigration and integration policies, labour migrant rights and
health, prevention and combating irregular migration and
trafficking in human beings, return and resettlement, climate
change and migration development including Migration Profiles,
diaspora issues and temporary return, research, policy dialogue
events and publications. 

For more information please contact

Ryan Schroeder

IOM Brussels

Tel. +32.2.287.7116

Email: "mailto:rschroeder@iom.int">rschroeder@iom.int