1. The Söderköping Process 2009-2011 Gaspar Bergman Head of Secretariat, Söderköping Process *The Cross-Border Co-operation/Söderköping Process is a project funded by the European Union.

2.  Objectives and outputs  Funding arrangements and funding pledged by Governments  Role of National Coordinators  Other considerations SODERKOPING PROCESS 2009-2011

3.  Purpose - Transition to a Government-managed multilateral initiative  Overall objective - to facilitate the development of asylum and migration systems in the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in line with international standards  Specific objective - to support the Ministries of Interior, Border Guard Services, Migration Services and Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to develop and strengthen their information sharing and coordination capacity as well as liaison and cooperation with EU Member States on border management, migration and refugee protection issues. OBJECTIVES

4.  An enhanced information sharing mechanism between Governments through the Söderköping Process web portal, including sharing of statistics, migration trends, policy developments, legislation;  Direct contacts between governmental authorities, including organizing bilateral meetings, setting agendas, providing resources and information and briefing notes;  A proactive and efficient Network of National Coordinators, who would work on establishing a coordination and information sharing mechanism in their own countries; OUTPUTS

5.  Enhanced information gathering tools for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine – information pertaining to asylum, migration and border management;  Key EU policy documents, EU Directives and best practices on asylum, migration and border management made available to Governments and NGOs in Russian;  A comprehensive legislative database and statistics database to be used by all 10 Governments and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine in particular;  Maintaining dialogue/co-operation between Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine; OUTPUTS

6.  As agreed by participating Governments, an application for funding was submitted to the European Commission under the Thematic Programme of Cooperation with Third Countries in the Areas of Migration and Asylum;  If approved, the next project phase would cover the period of 2009- 2011;  Focus on sustainability; FUNDING

7.  Importance of in-kind and financial contributions;  Several Governments pledged/earmarked funding for 2009-2011: -Estonia EUR 10,000 -Hungary EUR 30,000 -Latvia EUR 10,000 (and USD 10,000 in 2008) -Lithuania EUR 10,000 -Sweden EUR 275,000 -Slovak Republic EUR 10,000 FUNDING PLEDGED BY GOVERNMENTS

8. ROLE OF NATIONAL COORDINATORS National Coordinators are responsible for:  Liaison with governmental authorities, NGOs and international organisations and coordination and monitoring of cooperation among all countries involved in the Söderköping Process;  Acting as a focal point on asylum, migration, and border management issues for the Secretariat and the Söderköping Process countries;  Analysis and recommendations on issues of asylum, migration and border management and response to needs of other countries;

9. ROLE OF NATIONAL COORDINATORS  Strengthening coordination among governments in addressing issues of common concern;  Proposals and recommendations for the further development of the Söderköping Process;  Raising awareness and visibility of the process;  Providing materials to the Söderköping Process website and quarterly newsletter;

10. SUSTAINABILITY The Söderköping Process as a multilateral initiative vs. the Söderköping Process as an EU funded project; Importance of continuing activities and initiatives within the framework of the Process beyond cessation of project funding;

11. Methods to achieve sustainability:  ensuring lasting governmental commitment;  involving all governmental asylum, migration and border management institutions and civil society in activities;  transfer of responsibility for each and every activity to the Governments and NGOs involved in the Process;  Using the Process as a multilateral and bilateral forum;

12. www.soderkoping.org.ua