1. 22 - 23 October 2012 Brussels, Belgium
DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING MIGRATION POLICY IN ARMENIA EU – ARMENIA COOPERATION ON MIGRATION THE MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP: ONE YEAR ON Policy Seminar GAGIK YEGANYAN Head of the State Migration Service RA Ministry of Territorial Administration
October 2012 Brussels, Belgium

2. Content Reforms in migration field during recent 3 years
Structure and content of the “ Action Plan for Implementation of the Policy Concept for the State Regulation of Migration in the Republic of Armenia” (NAP)
Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership (MP) between the EU and Armenia
Priority areas in the framework of MP
Issues to be addressed to improve implementation of projects in the framework of MP

3. Reforms in migration field during last three years
Establishment of State Migration Service
The RA President Decree NH-286-N on “On establishing the State Migration Service” (SMS) dated 18 November, 2009
SMS received higher degree of authority, which allows it to develop and present drafts in migration policy area to the RA Government and National Assembly and defend them independently
Coordination of the bodies having migration functions in terms of drafting migration policy and legal acts ensuring its implementation

4. Reforms in migration field during last 3 years (continuation)
Concept Paper on the Policy for the State Regulation of Migration in the Republic of Armenia (approved by the RA Government Protocol Decision N51 dated 30 December, 2010 )
The Concept is consistent with the international obligations undertaken by the RA
National Action Plan for Implementation of the Policy Concept for the State Regulation of Migration in the Republic of Armenia in (approved by the RA Government Decision N 1593-N dated
10 November, 2011)

5. Action Plan for Implementation of the Policy Concept for the State Regulation of Migration in Armenia” (NAP) Structure and content
The NAP is aimed at resolving 14 major issues of the state regulation of migration defined in the Concept
According to the Governmental Decision, an interagency committee for monitoring implementation of the NAP was established, which has held five sessions so far
Semi-annual and annual reports on the implementation process of the NAP

6. Action Plan for Implementation of the Policy Concept for the State Regulation of Migration in Armenia (NAP) Structure and content (continuation)
Implementation of 147 specific actions is envisaged by the NAP, out of which 83 – in 2012
Implementation of 14 actions is expected in 2013, and 29 in
First responsible implementers of 147 specific actions, envisaged by the NAP
- SMS is involved in 86 actions
- RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 30 actions
- RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 13 actions

7. Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between the European Union and Armenia
Signed on 27 October, 2011 in Luxembourg by the RA , European Commission and 10 EU member states
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Sweden
The Declaration has 4 directions and 17 areas, which are reflected in NAP

8. Steps undertaken by Armenia
towards implementation of the MP
Interdepartmental Committee was established by the decision of the Prime-Minister of the RA
The first session of the committee was held on 31 May of It resulted in formation of Local Cooperation Platform in Armenia
The first expanded session of the Platform was held in Yerevan on 12th of October. Speeches of the representatives of embassies of the countries expressed interest to co-operate with Armenia in the framework of Declaration were listened at the meeting.

9. Principles of choice of priority areas of cooperation within the framework of the MP
Areas, which correspond with actions enshrined in the NAP and to be implemented in
Areas, which due to the recent developments in various fields have become very important
Areas not addressed at all so far, and left as “unfamiliar” in this sense

10. Priority areas 1. Mobility, legal migration and integration
1b. Proposal by
Bulgaria, France, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden
to strengthen the administrative capacity of Armenia for the management of the migration processes, notably by sharing experience in the area of legal and labour migration, training of officials on drafting of strategic documents in the area of migration and integration, management of legal and labour migration
1c. Proposal by
France
to promote circular mobility of young professionals and students
Italy, Poland, Sweden, Romania
to share information on possibilities of migration through legal channels, including circular migration, inform potential migrant workers from Armenia on legal migration opportunities and risks related to irregular immigration

11. Priority areas (continuation)
1c. Proposal by (continuation)
Romania
to implement ‘pre-departure training’ programs and promote joint study programs based on Bologna system to facilitate the recognition of studies and diplomas in Romania and Armenia
Germany
facilitation of outward mobility for legally residing Armenians in Germany
1e. Proposal by
Bulgaria
to negotiate bilateral agreements in the area of social security and management of labour migration

12. Priority areas (continuation)
2. Migration and development
2a. Proposal by
France
to support measures aiming at fully using migrants' skills and professional qualifications acquired abroad for the benefit of Armenia's development
2c.Proposal by
Germany
to continue to promote well informed and cost-effective remittances' channels with the aim of better contributing to the development of migrants' country of origin
2e.Proposal by
Romania
to foster cooperation between NGOs, in particular Diaspora association, and state institutions in Romania and Armenia in order to facilitate the reintegration of repatriated persons in Armenia’s national education system and labour market

13. Priority areas (continuation)
3. Fight against irregular immigration and trafficking in human beings, readmission, identity and travel documents' security, border management
3a. Proposal by
Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and EU
to support measures aiming at sharing the practical aspects of return policies, including exchanging best practices on readmission processes
3b. Proposal by
Belgium and Poland
to share knowledge and best practices on enhancing administrative competences and structures in combating trafficking in human beings

14. Priority areas (continuation)
4. Asylum and international protection
4a. Proposal by EU
to support to building the capacity of Armenia's government to implement an asylum policy, including international protection, according to best international standards
4b. Proposal by
Sweden
to organise, within the framework of the Söderköping Process, a workshop on the of the European Asylum Curriculum (EAC) and, subsequently, a preliminary study on the possible transfer of European Asylum Curriculum (EAC) to Armenia and other Eastern Partnership countries
4c. Proposal by
Poland
to share knowledge on Countries of Origin Information systems

15. Issues to be addressed to improve implementation of projects in the framework of MP
Major goal of the MP is to deepen and widen cooperation with Armenia in the field of migration. One year passed, however, there is a very little progress in this regard.
Are there responsible persons in the administration of EU member states or monitoring mechanism in the European Commission for implementation of the MP?
What will be the first step undertaken by European Commission and EU member states for launching concrete projects?
What is expected from the Armenian side in this regard?
Will the EU states act separately or consortiums will be established related to those areas of cooperation, which are within the interest of more than one state (e.g. 1b, 3a and etc.)?
Will any state take on responsibility of a leading state in such cases?

16. Thank you!