Kosovo - With the rise in irregular migration of Kosovo citizens towards the European Union (EU), Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga met with IOM Kosovo Chief of Mission Jorge Baca Vaughan on Thursday (12/2) to discuss the need to engage with local and international institutions to address migration management and the return of irregular Kosovar migrants from EU countries.

President Atifete pledged that Kosovo will work to strengthen rule of law, support economic development and restore its citizens’ trust in her country’s institutions. She also acknowledged IOM’s ongoing role and commitment to support Kosovo in the reintegration of all its returning citizens.

Parts of Europe are currently seeing a sharp increase in asylum-seeking by migrants from Kosovo, which is already having broad repercussions across the region.  Many are young families, who are very determined to create a better future for their children abroad, said Magdalena Majkowska-Tomkin, Chief of Mission at IOM in Hungary.

According to data compiled by IOM, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium reported a notable increase in Kosovo nationals seeking asylum in the last several months. December 2014 and January 2015 in particular saw the highest numbers, compared to previous years. 

Hungary is on the front line, receiving the majority of (primarily transiting) Kosovars leaving Kosovo for the EU and Switzerland.  Over 10,000 Kosovars applied for asylum in Hungary in January 2015, compared with 11,220 in 2014, and 6,210 in 2013. Between 2010 and 2013 only 7,000 applied. The 10,188 Kosovars seeking asylum in Hungary in January represented 78 per cent of all asylum seekers to Hungary during that month.

IOM Hungary staff note that of those who apply for asylum in Hungary, 40-50 per cent will leave within 24 hours and a further 30-40 per cent leave within 3-10 days, according to Hungary’s Office of Immigration and Nationality (OIN).

Over two days earlier this month, Hungarian police intercepted some 330 Kosovars on two trains heading for Austria from Budapest. Police also detained 991 irregular Kosovar migrants during a single day on Hungary’s southern border.

In Germany, monthly asylum applications from Kosovars rose in 2014 from around 500 in July to almost 2,000 by December. Nearly 9,000 Kosovars sought asylum in Germany in 2014, almost all of them during the second half of the year, up from 4,415 in 2013. In 2011, fewer than 2,000 Kosovars applied for asylum in Germany.

In 2014 Austria also saw more than a doubling in the number of Kosovars seeking asylum compared to 2013. The number rose from 1901 in 2014 from 935 in 2013.

Numbers are smaller in Switzerland, but still meaningful. Only 405 Kosovars sought asylum in Switzerland in all of 2014. During the first month of 2015, Switzerland received 112 asylum applications from Kosovars. In 2012, no Kosovars sought asylum in Switzerland.

IOM staff at several regional missions report on the role that misinformation on social media has also played in the rise of asylum seekers. Rumors have been circulating on social media about Germany accepting seasonal workers from Kosovo, and about both France and Germany putting Kosovo on a “safe country” list sometime this year.

Jorge Baca Vaughan notes that there is also misinformation circulating regarding benefits that can be received in Austria and entering the labor market in Germany, where asylum seekers now can work after three months’ residence in the country, compared to 9 months previously.

Another factor may be the easing of travel. Since last fall, Kosovo nationals have been able to leave the country with only a Kosovo ID. Children below 16 can travel with only a birth certificate.

IOM monitors say the issuance of birth certificates in Kosovo for the purpose of procuring an ID is on the rise, which coincides with the increase in asylum requests in Hungary, Austria and Germany.

A week ago, media reported that in the municipality of Vushtrie, a jurisdiction hard hit by outflowing migration, 900 birth certificates were issued over two days, February 2 and 3, to allow under-16-year-olds to travel. Over the next two days, another 230 certificates were issued.

The issues for Europe are important, including whether Kosovo can move forward with its EU visa liberalization policy objective as EU member states may regard the high number of asylum aplications by Kosovars as a reason to back away from visa liberalization. Another issue that could be impacted is Kosovo’s future as a member of the EU.

Earlier this month Baca Vaughan met with Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to offer IOM’s support in launching information campaigns designed to reduce irregular migration to the EU. IOM will provide technical assistance to a company hired by the Ministry of European Integration.

For further information please contact

Jorge Baca

IOM Kosovo

Tel. +381 38 249 042

Email: jbaca@iom.int

or

Magdalena Majkowska-Tomkin

IOM Hungary

Tel: + 36147-22519

Email: mmajkowska@iom.int

or

Ryan Schroeder

IOM Brussels

Tel +32 2 287 71 16

Email: rschroeder@iom.int