The IOM Global Office in Brussels acts as IOM’s liaison and coordination office to the European Union (EU) Institutions, Bodies and Agencies. 

IOM’s liaison with the EU was established in September 2011 at a time when the Treaty of Lisbon (2009), EU enlargement, and deeper cooperation had reinforced the centrality of migration and asylum policy.

Today, the IOM Global Office in Brussels – in liaison and strategic cooperation with the EU – aims to advance this work and position IOM at the forefront of discussion and advocacy through evidence-based advice and recommendations on migration policies and programmes. 

The IOM Global Office in Brussels also guides and supports IOM Offices worldwide in their advocacy on EU related issues as well as on the development, contracting and implementation of EU-funded projects.

We engage in a broad range of areas at the global level, as depicted in our work. 

The Global Office also hosts centralized projects such as the EU Readmission Capacity Building Facility (EURCAP) and Election Support Unit Projects, such as Election observation missions.

 

Partnerships

The IOM Global Office in Brussels engages with a wide range of strategic partners from different sectors. Partnerships are established in the areas of policy development, programme implementation, research and advocacy:

  • EU institutions and agencies
  • UN Agencies
  • Trade Unions
  • Private sector
  • Academia and think tanks
  • NGOs
  • Regional and international organisations
  • Media
     

We are working towards

We are working for results where European policies, programmes and cooperation lead to:

  • Safer and regular migration;
  • Inclusion and social cohesion for migrants, communities and societies in Europe;
  • Improved access to assistance, care and protection for migrants in vulnerable situations;
  • Conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development everywhere;
  • Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) is built into national return frameworks regardless of migrant nationality or their individual legal status;
  • A more sustainable “integrated approach” to migrant return and reintegration that respect migrants' rights and addresses the unique situation of the returning migrant, the host community and country of origin;
  • Prevention, preparedness, principled response and long-term solutions that all address the mobility dimensions of crisis situations in the EU and globally;
  • Increased protection space that demonstrates the EU’s solidarity with affected populations and shared responsibility with host countries;
  • Efficient and effective EU support to partner countries to address all aspects of mobility and to foster resilient societies;
  • Development and implementation of a comprehensive, rights-based EU Integrated Border Management framework;
  • National, regional and international efforts to address human mobility challenges associated with environmental factors and climate change.
  • The recognition of the migration, environment and climate change nexus in key global and regional policy processes and efforts to develop solutions to address these complex challenges globally.
  • The prevention of forced migration that results from environmental factors; more assistance and protection to affected populations when forced migration occurs in situations of environmental and climate change along with durable solutions to their situation; the facilitation of migration in the context of climate change adaptation, and enhancing the resilience of affected communities.