Transnational Exchange III - Repatriation Counselling in European Dialogue
The Transnational Exchange III Project follows succinctly its predecessor Trans II project with the title “International Exchange to improve reintegration measures in countries of origin” from 2013. Presentations and work groups mainly focused on the topics “Monitoring of returnees” and “Networks within the European Assisted Voluntary Return field of work”. Based upon the results of the discussions necessary steps for the operational counselling service were compiled. Additionally, five reintegration organizations presented their work concerning the support after the return as well as two cooperation projects. New relations could be built, old ones continued and deepened.
During the execution of the two predecessor projects it became clear that a “successful” return and a sustainable reintegration is dependent on several conditions and aspects. Good-quality counselling with a consequential clear understanding of the perspectives in the home and host country prior to the departure and individual support after return play an essential role for a sustainable return. Therefore, the participants of the Trans III workshops and conferences comprise European repatriation counsellors and network representatives and reintegration partners from return countries. A special focus of the Transnational Exchange III Project will be placed on the topic “repatriation counselling for vulnerable returnees”. Vulnerability in the field of assisted voluntary return encompasses a great array from mentally and physically ill persons to single parents to persons with a long absence of the home country.
In order to develop concrete recommendations for action case studies and work visits will be implemented within the three year duration of the project. With the aid of the new findings the counselling operative work shall be simplified and professionalized. These sources of information will be accessible to any European return counsellor. The goal is to achieve less dropouts of planned returns, a greater sustainability of the departures and more cases (a quantitative amelioration).