Overview of the Migration Systems in the CIS Countries [antikvár]

The present publication has been produced within the framework of the projec: the Re-direction of the Budapest Process towards the C/S reg/o^ and was subm.üed, financed and supported by the European Commission, Austna the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Poland. The Budapest Process was established in 1993 as an inter-governmental fórum aiming at the prevention and control of irregular movements to and through Europe. It functions as a consultative mechanism for the exchange of views and ideas in an informál manner on issues related to the control and prevention of irregular migration among all participating States. It was preceded by the Berlin Process, established in 1991 to foster a harmonised approach towards the phenomenon of irregular migration. As Hungary took over chairmanship in 1993, it became the Budapest Process. The Budapest Group of Senior Officials meets on an annual basis to take stock of the developments and give further directions on the activities undertaken in the framework of the Process. Since 1994 the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) serves as Secretariat to the Budapest Process. It provides organisational support for the functioning of the Process. At present, the Budapest Process is comprised of almost 40 states and 10 international organisations. The work of the Process closely follows and reflects the ongoing developments within the European Union in the broad migration field. All participating States in the Budapest Process have an equal standing and an equal opportunity to present their problems and proposing solutions. The informál nature of the Process allows for discussion of these issues in a non-binding manner, at the same time furthering the bilateral or multilateral dialogue in these areas. The mandate for the work of the Budapest Process emanates from three Ministerial Conferences (1993 in Budapest, 1997 in Prague and 2003 in Rhodes). The recommendations adopted at these Conferences aim at furthering a comprehensive approach in the area of prevention of irregular migration by addressing issues related to bordér management, visa policies and practices, return and readmission, trafficking and smuggling in humán beings, carrier and employer sanctions. On the basis of these recommendations, a dialogue on legal harmonisation, exchange of information, technical and financial assistance, etc. has been promoted. The recommendations are not legally binding by nature, but do, however, carry the weight of a political commitment at the highest level. During the late 1990s the migration realities in Europe began to change and the challenges posed by the irregular movement of migrants within, from and through the CIS region became increasingly imminent. The Budapest Process reacted by addressing these challenges in the recommendations adopted at the Ministerial Conference held in Rhodes in 2003, which resulted in a change in geographical focus from Central Europe to CIS while maintaining focus on South Eastern Europe (notably the five countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedónia (FYR), Serbia and Montenegro). To implement the mandate provided by Rhodes Ministerial Conference, the project "The Re-direction of the Budapest Process towards the CIS countries to prevent irregular migration within, from and through the region" has been implemented 2004- 2005 and the present publication is one of the main final outcomes of this project.