Key Outcomes from the 7th Meeting of the RRF – Technical Working Group on Reintegration and Development
On November 27, 2024, the group reconvened for its seventh meeting, hosted by its Chair (FEDASIL) at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
This gathering brought together over 25 representatives from the Return, Reintegration, and Development sectors, as well as officials from European Commission (DG INTPA, DG NEAR, DG HOME) andIOM, as well as EMN-REG. Experts in migration and development, practitioners, and policymakers from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Sweden participated in this significant event.
The TWG R&D functions as a collaborative platform connecting return and reintegration (R&R) efforts with external dimensions. It seeks to provide technical and operational solutions to enhance the R&R process and ensure effective fund allocation. However, the group recognizes that challenges still exist, such as misalignment and insufficient engagement with countries of origin (CoO). To address these, there is a growing ambition to foster greater CoO inclusion and rethink the group’s focus and investment strategies.
Key Discussions and Presentations
The meeting included two plenary sessions focusing on recent developments in research in the area of Return and Reintegration (R&R) and development, as well as a presentation on return, reintegration, and development in the European Union’s programming.
The second plenary highlighted the results of a revamped activity, which provided an overview of the national programs of TWG member states in the reintegration and development sectors. These results emphasized institutional structures, recent initiatives, and strategies, with a renewed focus on returnees as key beneficiaries. The update involved 85% of RRF member states, showcasing increased participation from development actors compared to five years ago. Despite this progress, mapping all relevant projects remains challenging due to sectoral fragmentation, limited collaboration, and inadequate tracking mechanisms.
TWG R&D members expressed strong interest in revitalizing this mapping activity and will be keen to receive a regular update of the fiches that provide actionable insights into government structures, program landscapes, and inter-sectoral collaboration.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of a proposal on how to establish an efficient link to strengthen referral mechanisms. Through these efforts, the RRF continues to advance collaborative strategies that address the complexities of return and reintegration, striving for sustainable solutions that benefit returnees and their communities.
Looking Ahead
The next in-person TWG meetings are scheduled for:
* Wednesday, June 4, 2025
* Wednesday, November 19, 2025