International Cooperation
Cooperation in the area of asylum, migration, integration and protection of state borders
General information about international cooperation
The Czech Republic has been developing long-term cooperation with the main transit and source countries of immigration to the Czech Republic, especially in the countries adjacent to the European Union. At the level of the European Union, the Czech Republic participates in the development and implementation of the instruments of the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility representing the concept framework of the European Union’s external migration policy. The development of eastern and south-eastern dimension of the Global Approach to Migration is of fundamental importance, particularly the development carried out through the Prague Process. The Prague Process represents the main multilateral migration dialogue of the EU Member States with the eastern and south-eastern neighbours of the EU. It is developed primarily through 4 pilot projects of the Target Initiative for Implementation of the Prague Process Action Plan. This initiative was supported by the European Commission with additional EUR 600 000, which will allow for implementation of another 3 projects, in which the Czech Republic is actively involved.
Within the European Commission’s Theme-specific Programme for Cooperation with Third Countries in Asylum and Migration, the Czech Republic leads the project focused on the issues of integration of foreign nationals in the Russian Federation titled Development of Joint Principles, Procedures and Standards on the Integration of Labour Immigrants between the Russian Federation and European partners (ERIS). It is a project of cooperation between the migration authorities of the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation and Austria in integration of foreign nationals, the implementation of which commenced in February 2013.
Dialogues with eastern partners within the Eastern Partnership are also of major importance to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic actively attends the meetings of the panels of the Eastern Partnership regarding migration issues. One of the meetings of the Eastern Partnership’s Panel on Integration of Foreign Nationals and Asylum Seekers was hosted by the Czech Republic in November 2013.
Participation in the Partnerships for Mobility established with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia is also of crucial importance. Within the Partnership for Mobility with these countries, the Czech Republic is implementing or has implemented projects designed to strengthen migration capacities. For example, as the leading state in the years 2010-2013, the Czech Republic through its Ministry of the Interior implemented the flagship project within the Partnership for Mobility with Georgia.
The Czech Republic also participates in migration dialogues with other important countries and regions relevant to the migration situation of the European Union (for example, in the EU-Russia Migration Dialogue). Negotiations within the EU-China Migration Dialogue are also important.
For implementation of its priorities in asylum and migration, the Czech Republic closely cooperates with international organisations, particularly with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In cooperation with the IOM, the main action taken included the implementation of the multilateral project entitled Support of Reintegration of Georgian Returnees and implementation of the readmission agreement between the EU and Georgia within the Partnership for Mobility with Georgia. The Czech Republic cooperates with the ICMPD for example within the Prague Process (administration of the Pilot Project for Development and Migration). As concerns the UNHCR, cooperation is oriented on assistance to refugees in the countries and regions of origin and resettlement.