Europe

IOM Today

An intergovernmental organization established in 1951, IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

  • 146 Members and 98 observers
  • More than 450 field locations
  • More than 7,800 staff working on more than 2,700 projects
  • More than US$ 1.3 billion expenditures in 2011

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Warning - Internet Scams

Beware of fraudulent offers of migration assistance in the internet or email marketing.

Individuals considering migrating for whatever purpose or destination should take extreme caution in dealing with internet offers or email marketing in light of recent surge in fraudulent schemes.

European Union

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Migration Issues

At the European Union (EU) level, efforts to advance a common, concerted and balanced policy on migration have continued. At the end of 2009, the EU's new five-year programme in the area of Justice, Freedom and Security (2010–2014), the Stockholm Programme, was launched, an important component of which is dedicated to the EU's immigration and asylum policy. The EU Global Approach to Migration is the framework governing the external dimension of EU migration and asylum policy. The Global Approach covers the management of legal migration, the effective prevention of and fight against irregular immigration and the strengthening of the relationship between migration and development.

Implementation mechanisms include: a) mobility partnerships for enhanced migration management cooperation between the EU and individual third countries; and b) migration profiles to enhance migration data management and promote evidence-based policymaking in EU partner countries. Furthermore, the EC adopted a new health strategy, “Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013” that seeks to emphasize the health consideration in all policies, reduce health inequalities and narrow health gaps and engagement in global health. The EC's Communication on Health Inequalities was released on 20 October 2009; migrants and Roma are recognized as two of the targeted vulnerable groups.

IOM supports the EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council, Committees) and EU Member States through the provision of policy guidance and the implementation of projects facilitating legal migration, addressing irregular and forced migration, and supporting the integration of migrants, as well as initiatives promoting synergies between migration and development, migration and the environment, and migration and health.