The Journey Ahead: Supporting Successful Migration in Europe and Central Asia provides an in-depth analysis of migration trends in Europe and Central Asia and the implications for policymaking. By identifying challenges and opportunities associated with migration in the region, the report aims to inform a more nuanced and evidence-based debate on the costs and benefits of cross-border mobility.
Managed well, migration can work for everyone involved—countries of origin, destination countries, and migrants themselves. The report offers several policy reforms to maximize the development impacts of migration and help effectively manage the economic, social, and political costs.
International coordination will be key to the effective management of migration and ensuring its benefits are equally distributed.
Policies to consider include:
- Distinguishing between different types of migration to identify appropriate policy responses. Policies should be evidence-based; tailored to address the distinct needs of high-skilled and low-skilled migrants, including those seeking economic opportunities or fleeing conflict, and coordinated at both national and regional levels.
- Maximizing net gains across Europe and Central Asia by making labor migration part of policymakers’ broader competitiveness strategy. At the national level, this includes both investing in active labor market programs for native-born communities and adopting selective, needs-based immigration policies.
- Transforming “brain drain” into “brain gain” by making migration an explicit development policy. Governments in countries of origin, for example, can monitor labor market needs, adopt educational cost-sharing systems to meet demand, fostering public-private cooperations through Global Skill Partnerships, and incentivizing the return of high-skilled migrants through labor market reforms and supportive policies.
- Strengthening frameworks for safer formal migration. In countries of origin, these efforts include developing domestic registration systems for migrants as well as bilateral arrangements with destination countries; mechanisms to ensure prospective migrants receive accurate information about work opportunities abroad; and ensuring the portability of social insurance and benefits while abroad, in coordination with destination countries.