Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina Department for Diaspora Workshop on Innovation in EU-Mediterranean and Western Balkans WBC-INCO.NET-MIRA meeting Sarajevo, 5 – 6 November 2012

The area of migration (& development) included in entity and state-level strategies in BiH BiH Strategy of Migration and Asylum and its Action Plan for 2012 – 2015, adopted in June 2012*; BiH Strategy of Development; BiH Strategy of Social Inclusion; Strategies of development of science at BiH and entity levels...

BiH academic and professional networks in diaspora –> knowledge transfer to BiH Bosnian and Herzegovinian – American Academy of Arts and Science (BHAAAS), USA; APU Network, Sweden; Bosnian and Herzegovinian Medical Initiative (BMI) Network; Scientific Club “Nauk“, the Netherlands...

TAIEX Multi-country Workshop Sarajevo, October 2011 Subject: linking migrants‘ resources with development of their countries of origin in the Western Balkans (WB); Participants (120+): institutions in charge of creating policies on diaspora from Albania, BiH, Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Moldavia; international organizations; NGO and academic sector.

TAIEX Multi-country Workshop Sarajevo, October 2011 Shared position of the WB representatives The event contributed to a better understanding of the subject (i.e. linking migration with development) – a useful experience sharing. The participants look favourably upon further development of regional cooperation in the area of migration and development and support continuation of such regional gatherings that would provide guidance on further WB cooperation;

TAIEX Multi-country Workshop Sarajevo, October 2012 The issue of migration and development is very important for all WB countries which, unlike the EU MS, are countries of origin/transit of migrants. The participants call upon migrants' host countries in the EU to develop a more sensitive attitude in regards to migration and development, as well as to the impact of emigration to development of the WB countries, while ensuring that the related challenges are solved by partnership.

TAIEX Multi-country workshop Sarajevo, October 2011 In order to bring about better understanding of the current emigration trends and their links with development, investment and incentives aimed at research on this issue are supported hereby in the WB countries. Particular focus of this support refers to resource generation, as well as to knowledge and experience sharing at the regional level, that will serve as the basis for creation of more efficient policies in the area of migration and development.

TAIEX Multi-country workshop Sarajevo, October 2011 In order to promote research in the region it is needed to support initiatives aimed at gathering high quality data both in the region and in the EU countries that are the final destination of emigrants from the Western Balkans. Conceptual and methodological discussion aimed at improving communication in the area of science and policy creation is also supported by the participants.

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Objective: sharing results of the current and discussing the needs of future research on migrants and diaspora from BiH, establishing cooperation among and providing support for researchers => changed perceptions of diaspora and migration.

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Participants (70+): researcers from BiH, the region, EU and beyond who focus on the area of migration, BiH institutions, academic organizations, private sector, media. MHRR partners: TAIEX Brussels, Swiss Cooperation Office BiH, Institute for Social Science Research of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University in Sarajevo; researchers of BiH origin.

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Suggestions and conclusions: Networking of researchers in BiH and the region; Research on economic aspects of migrants‘ links with BiH (remittances, savings, investment); Analyze the impact of the WB EU integration process on migration flows (labour, return, asylum-related migration, etc.);

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Comparative analysis of WB and EU strategies of migration and of development; Analysis of human potential of BiH migrants and of possibilities of their engagement as deficitary cadre (brain gain); Research on EU-funded projects in the area of migration and development, and a joint approach to the EU with specific initiatives for regional projects;

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Updated database of researchers, centres, projects, research papers on BiH migration issues, invitations to conferences, information on funds and scholarships available to academic staff and students; Launching of a virtual library of research papers;

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Partnership aimed at organizing summer schools, events and graduate programmes on migration; Launching of a scientific journal on migration- related issues, which would be connected to the network of researchers;

Multi-country Research Workshop on Migration from BiH, Sarajevo, September 2012 Elaboration on projects and strategy of project preparation for FP7 and other funding schemes; Priority topic for further research and for the next event: brain drain/gain (the implementation of BiH Strategy of Migration and Asylum, objective 6*);

Third GIZ Regional Workshop on Migration Policy in the Western Balkans, Sarajevo, October 2012 Focus: Institutional Setting of Development- oriented Diaspora Policy; Participants (60): institutions in charge of diaspora and development from Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo*, Serbia, Macedonia, diaspora organizations from WB countries, international organizations focusing on migration and development (GIZ, IOM, SDC, ICMPD).

Third GIZ Regional Workshop on Migration Policy in the Western Balkans, Sarajevo, October 2012 Recommendations: Regional cooperation in the area of migration and development is of key importance since, in addition to specifically internal, there are related shared interests of the WB countries to draw the attention of the EU to the importance of implementation of its guidelines on linking migration with development of countries of origin.

Third GIZ Regional Workshop on Migration Policy in the Western Balkans, Sarajevo, October 2012 Participation of diaspora organizations is necessary in the process of creating effective policies at countries of origin in regards to temporary, ad hoc and/or permanent transfer of development- related resources; Sharing good practice is needed in the area of migration and development;

Third GIZ Regional Workshop on Migration Policy in the Western Balkans, Sarajevo, October 2012 Continued development and strengthening of mutual trust is necessary among all stakeholders in the implementation process of the EU guidelines on migration and development (i.e. The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility – GAMM, and Policy Coherence for Development – PCD).

Thank you for your attention. Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina Trg BiH 1 Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina (Iseljeništvo) Aiša Telalović