About VMC

Europe’s leading forum on migration

Our conference

Every autumn, ICMPD’s annual flagship event offers an indispensable opportunity to discuss unfolding geopolitical dynamics, global trends and the current EU migration agenda. It is the premier international platform for high-level discussions on migration in Europe and beyond, where debates put the spotlight firmly on the state of play in migration diplomacy and where real progress among key partners can be made.

Our mission

Today’s world is interconnected and constantly evolving, and so is international migration. Realities and perspectives are as dynamic as the flows and effects of migration. They differ not just among but also within countries and stakeholder groups. Making progress and finding common ground in this ever-changing and divisive policy area requires a platform for a continuous, structured debate and open discourse.

The Vienna Migration Conference (VMC) provides just that: a trusted space for frank exchanges, where decision-makers and practitioners discuss the latest developments and trends and outline their visions for the road ahead – on stage, in side talks and through networking.

VMC provides space for the exchange of a wide range of perspectives. In so doing, it sheds light on key migration-related opportunities and challenges – along routes to and within Europe, as well as for countries of origin and transit and other European partners.

Our outreach

We make use of our global network to bring together decision-makers, thought leaders and frontrunners in the migration sphere to convene, connect and engage.

Over the past nine editions, VMC has attracted ministers, leading experts and practitioners from governments across the EU, Türkiye, Western Balkans, Africa and Asia, as well as top figures from international and non-governmental organisations, academia, media, civil society and the private sector.

We stream most of our debates online, which brings VMC to the doorsteps of the wider migration community and ensures the broadest possible outreach. The conference is covered by international and local media and we share the highlights and analysis of the debates through social media, interviews and a conference report.

 

VMC Concept Note

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Last year’s edition

Last year’s Vienna Migration Conference (VMC2024) was held on 21-22 October 2024 and featured 15 live sessions with 32 speakers and 327 in-person participants from 48 countries, alongside 1,551 online attendees. Under new EU leadership and as the Pact on Migration and Asylum moved into implementation, discussions spanned labour migration, safer routes, public sentiment on migration, and Pact rollout. The conference was once again livestreamed. Watch the highlights video below and visit the VMC2024 page for the full programme and session recordings.

Voices of VMC

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About us

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation with 20 Member States and over 500 staff members. Active in more than 90 countries worldwide, it takes a regional approach in its work to create effective cooperation and partnerships along migration routes. The purpose of ICMPD is to promote innovative, comprehensive and sustainable migration policies and to function as a service and information exchange mechanism for governments and organisations. ICMPD has vast experience in bridging the gap between theory and practice. 

The Vienna Migration Conference (VMC) is ICMPD’s annual flagship event, and its organisation is the sum of efforts by the organisation’s best and brightest across teams and locations. The core organising team is situated in the Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy under the leadership of the Policy Team, following a whole-of-organisation approach with strategic support from Regional Offices.

Show team

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