Jubilee symposium 'Migration on the Move' highlights international cooperation

On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) held the symposium 'Migration on the Move' on Wednesday 9 November. In the Louwman Museum in The Hague more than 130 guests from the Netherlands and abroad followed an inspiring program about developments in the field of return.

The participants included many ambassadors and national and international partners from the migration field. They were welcomed by Minister for Migration Eric van der Burg. He complimented the DT&V on the extensive and impressive experience that the organization has built up over the past 15 years as a professional executor of the return policy.

Van der Burg emphasized that a well-functioning return policy is indispensable for the migration chain, especially now that our national asylum system is under pressure. The symposium highlighted the importance of a partnership approach. The Netherlands therefore wants to work closely with countries of departure, transit and destination.

Image: ©DT&V / DT&V
An impression of 'Migration on the Move 2022'

Customization

Mari Juritsch, Return coordinator at the European Commission since March this year, acted as keynote speaker. Her position is new and aims to coordinate return initiatives in and with European countries. Juritsch emphasized two important goals: to increase the number of voluntary returnees and to improve the quality of support for returnees.

This can be done, for example, by investing more in return guidance and services that enable reintegration and by responding to the different needs of individuals with tailor-made solutions. In this regard, she showed interest in the DT&V's working method, in which one supervisor is responsible for the entire departure process of a foreign national.

Panel discussion

After the keynote speech, there were two fascinating panel discussions on the themes of international cooperation in the return process and tailor-made return. The panel included Mari Juritsch, Piras Alessandro Di Tolla, Director of the European Center for Returns Division at Frontex, Monika Sie Dhian Ho, Director of the Clingendael Institute, and Ewald Riks, Acting General Director of the DT&V. From everyone's own point of view, new insights were presented to realize migration and mobility for mutual benefit, preferably in a European context and in collaboration with the business community.