Programme

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger opens the 10th Vienna Migration Conference (VMC2025), setting the tone for this milestone edition. This year’s conference also marks his final VMC as Director General, concluding a decade of leadership that has strengthened ICMPD’s role as a trusted convenor of dialogue and cooperation on migration.

Through recorded video messages, Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, European Commission, and Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, European Commission, lend their support to the 10th edition of the Vienna Migration Conference (VMC2025), underscoring the EU’s priorities and continued commitment to partnership, dialogue, and forward-looking cooperation on migration governance.

ICMPD Director of Policy, Research and Strategy, Malin Frankenhaeuser, and Head of Policy a.i. and VMC Lead, Justyna Segeš Frelak, introduce the 10th edition of the Vienna Migration Conference, outlining the key themes shaping this year’s agenda.

As global tensions and strategic shifts accelerate, the EU and its neighbours must navigate the intersections of migration, security, and diplomacy. This high-level panel will assess how international relations and domestic politics are shaping migration governance and partnerships. It will explore the implications for protection systems, responsibility-sharing, and crisis preparedness, offering insights into how national priorities and cooperative action can be reconciled.

Over the past year, the global order has continued to rapidly transition away from liberal, norms-based frameworks toward more transactional, interest-driven approaches. This transformation is having seismic effects, reshaping global alliances, altering geopolitical dynamics, and impeding international consensus. This conversation will unpack the political and ideological currents shaping Europe’s position on the world stage and explore what the future of democracy, solidarity, and migration may look like.

In an uncertain environment, policymakers require better tools to anticipate migration trends and design proactive responses. While labour mobility can often be projected using demographic and economic data, predicting displacement driven by conflict, climate change, or political instability remains far more challenging. Over the past decade, new instruments have been developed to anticipate displacement, vulnerabilities, arrivals, and returns of migrants across origin, transit, and destination countries. This session assesses their practical application: What works, what falls short, and how predictive insights can support policymaking.

With the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum set to enter into force next summer, implementation remains a priority for national administrations. This session convenes senior officials to review progress, evaluate policies in the pipeline, and discuss how to ensure that the EU migration system remains responsive, fair, and credible. It will also provide reflections on the strategic direction of European migration governance.

This conversation will examine Ukraine’s and the EU’s response to displacement and preparations for a long-term recovery. With temporary protection extended until March 2027, discussions will explore durable solutions, including sustainable pathways for beneficiaries of temporary protection remaining in the EU, as well as prospects for return and reintegration in Ukraine when conditions permit. It will also consider how broader EU-Ukraine cooperation can help rebuild resilient communities and institutions.

As return policies receive renewed attention across Europe, efforts are underway to improve coordination, streamline procedures, and strengthen cooperation with countries of origin and transit. This panel will explore where return governance is headed amid political and operational challenges, highlighting emerging approaches and priorities for the EU and its Member States.

Global displacement has reached record levels, placing the international protection system under increasing strain. Great power rivalries, weakened multilateralism, diverging national interests, and changing public attitudes are testing long-standing commitments to refugee protection. Featuring seasoned voices from the humanitarian and policy spheres, this session invites a candid the discussion on the evolving meaning – and viability – of international protection.

Reception upon invitation of the Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Ludwig, with welcome remarks by Omar Al-Rawi, Member of the City Council and Provincial Parliament of Vienna, on behalf of Dr. Michael Ludwig.

Migration has the potential to be a powerful tool for countries of origin, reducing labour market pressures; setting the stage for the sending of remittances and transfer of ideas and investments; and spurring higher wages, spending, and economic growth. Yet its benefits hinge on how it is managed. Drawing on the experiences of the Philippines, this session examines the role of migration – and the necessary enabling policies and support systems – in driving economic growth in countries of origin.

Labour market shortages and skills gaps remain pressing challenges across Europe, driven by demographic change and international economic competition. This session highlights opportunities for alleviating these pressures through international labour mobility. It will consider: How can well-designed labour migration foster economic development, protect workers, and effectively balance the fiscal realities of mobility in today’s global race for talent?

The Western Balkans occupy an integral role in migration governance as a region of origin, transit, and increasingly, destination. Drawing on North Macedonia’s experience, the conversation will focus on opportunities to strengthen cooperation with countries of origin on labour mobility, develop robust labour migration systems that meet domestic needs, manage irregular migration, and design effective return strategies.

Migration partnerships are under increasing pressure from changing global dynamics and competing national agendas. Yet, cross-regional cooperation is more essential than ever. This session will explore common priorities such as migration management, return and reintegration, labour mobility, and skills development. It will also identify opportunities to strengthen trust, align policies, and build sustainable partnerships with lasting impact.

Returns occur under widely varying circumstances and are shaped by individual experiences and conditions in countries of return. This session will explore how reintegration can be made more sustainable through context-sensitive, long-term strategies aligned with national policies and development priorities. It will spotlight effective policies and practices that meet immediate reintegration needs while fostering long-term resilience.

Protracted crises and political volatility are reshaping global mobility patterns and placing new demands on the international system. Drawing on insights from across the conference, this session reflects on the evolving role of international actors at the intersection of security, the economy, migration, and displacement – at a time when the UN-based system is under strain and funding for humanitarian and development work is in decline.

The conference concludes with remarks by Michael Spindelegger, Director General of ICMPD, and Susanne Raab, Director General elect of ICMPD.