NEW ERN+ WEBSITE

THE EUROPEAN RESETTLEMENT NETWORK SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESETTLEMENT AND COMPLEMENTARY FORMS OF ADMISSION TO EUROPE FOR REFUGEES BY CONNECTING AND ENGAGING A VARIETY OF RELEVANT ACTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS Active since 2010, the network is committed to supporting refugee resettlement and protection and the provision of durable solutions for refugees as well as ensuring that refugees arriving under pathways of admission to Europe receive integration support that provides them with the necessary tools to become fully participating citizens in their communities. For more information about the European Resettlement Network, please visit the website www.resettlement.eu. Follow ERN+ on Twitter @ResettlementEU.

In this issue:

Conclusion of the ERN+ Project ERN+ Conference on Complementary Pathways of Admission to

Europe for Refugees ERN+ Publications Muhammed’s Story: A Scholarship Opportunity to Germany Policy Debate at the European Policy Centre: How to expand

complementary pathways to Europe for refugees

Useful Resources

EUROPEAN RESETTLEMENT NETWORK + other legal pathways (ERN+)

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 3, November 2018

Conclusion of the ERN+ Project In the period September 2016 to April 2018, IOM, ICMC Europe and UNHCR continued almost a decade of partnership through the joint implementation of a new EU-funded project under the banner of the European Resettlement Network (ERN) on Developing Innovative European Models for the Protection of Refugees and Providing Support to New Resettlement Countries. In assessing the scope for developing targeted programmes in Europe that would complement resettlement through establishing additional pathways for more refugees, the ERN co-ordinating partners identified significant potential in three pathways that became the focus of the project: community sponsorship programmes, student scholarship schemes and humanitarian admission programmes. While other pathways, including opportunities through enhanced family reunification and labour mobility schemes for refugees, are being explored by other actors and should be the subject of greater attention in Europe, the ERN+ project concentrated on the aforementioned pathways.

Community sponsorship programmes (also referred to as “private sponsorship”) have garnered increased attention across Europe in recent years as a way for communities and individuals to play a more active role in the reception and integration of refugees admitted to European countries and to cooperate with governments in a balanced way in supporting refugees.

Student scholarship schemes for refugees have been launched in several European countries in recent years, the vast majority of which in response to the forced displacement and educational needs of Syrians. They can have the impact of offering more tailored alternatives to dangerous journeys for refugees with relevant profiles, while supporting a pathway towards economic self-reliance and lasting solutions thanks to increased perspectives for refugees’ futures and those of their families.

Humanitarian admission programmes are a flexible tool that can respond to large-scale and protracted crises alongside existing resettlement programmes, while contributing, as is the case with other complementary pathways, to addressing the record numbers of refugees in need of resettlement. Among the advantages of humanitarian admission programmes is the ability to offer protection to those who need it most in an expedited and streamlined manner.

Through a series of webinars, targeted roundtables and seven publications, the project built upon the experience and lessons learned from Europe and elsewhere in order to articulate the potential for the incorporation of complementary pathways of admission as permanent features of the European international protection landscape. Through this process, the project succeeded in bringing together national, regional and local government, international organisations, civil society, think tanks, academia, higher education institutions and refugee diaspora in the effort to advance the debate in Europe on the three complementary pathways of focus. The project came to an end in April 2018, and its outputs are available at www.resettlement.eu. Read on for more information on the outcomes of the ERN+ project.

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ERN+ Conference ‘’Complementary Pathways of Admission

to Europe for refugees’’

On 12 April 2018, the ERN coordinating partners IOM, ICMC Europe and UNHCR convened in Brussels the ERN+ final conference on “Complementary Pathways of admission to Europe for refugees’’. The conference concluded the ERN+ Project. At the event, the ERN partners presented feasibility research and policy recommendations with respect to the development of complementary pathways in Europe. The conference consisted of panel discussions and breakout groups. Following opening remarks from the partner organisations, the partners also participated in the first panel with the consultants recruited under the project to discuss the scope and activities of the ERN+ project and to present a concise summary of the findings and conclusions from the research carried out. In the second panel, representatives of the European institutions (the European Commission and the European Parliament) and from civil society (ECRE) discussed the current state of play of resettlement in the European Union. Breakout complementary pathways sessions later provided the opportunity to explore each pathway in more focused, interactive exchanges.

The objective of these sessions was to foster open and constructive debate on the pathways of focus in a relatively informal setting, thereby maximising the possibility for contributions and discussions with and among the participants. A brief update on ongoing initiatives that further support the development of resettlement and complementary pathways in Europe was also provided. The last session provided feedback from the breakout sessions to the plenary on complementary pathways, including the link to European and global developments, such as the Global Compact on Refugees. The full conference report, including presentations, can be viewed here.

ERN+ Final Conference

ERN+ Policy Paper

‘’Strategic Assessment – Expanding solutions for refugees:

complementary pathways of admission to Europe’’

On the occasion of the ERN+ Conference on Complementary Pathways of

Admission to Europe, the policy paper ’Strategic Assessment: Expanding

solutions for refugees: complementary pathways of admission to Europe’’ was

presented, with a view to incorporating into the final publication input from the

conference participants. It was subsequently released at the end of April 2018.

This final study in the ERN+ series takes a strategic look at the complementary

pathways examined in the project, and is informed by the six studies on each

pathway (comprising three scoping papers and three feasibility studies – for

more information, please refer to page 3). It explores the need for

complementary pathways and the contribution that such programmes can make

to the international protection regime and to refugee protection in Europe. The

paper highlights key policy considerations for the development of

complementary pathways in general, while also identifying important similarities

and differences in the pathways assessed. Concrete recommendations are put

forward for expanding complementary pathways to Europe for refugees.

ERN+ Policy Paper

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v

ERN+ Research on Complementary Pathways of Admission

ERN+ Scoping Papers and Feasibility Studies

Developing innovative models and capacity for new forms of refugee

admission to Europe

A series of Scoping Papers and Feasibility and Policy Studies accompany the Strategic

Assessment paper to form the body of publications that are the outcome of the ERN+ project

research on complementary pathways of refugee admission to Europe. The studies recognise

the need for new approaches to address global displacement coupled with the increasingly

limited opportunities available for refugee resettlement.

The Scoping Papers aimed to further investigate the potential for the development of

complementary pathways of refugee admission to Europe, a field thus far little explored, and

to inform and guide relevant discussions with a variety of stakeholders. They analyse

examples of existing programmes for the admission of refugees to Europe and elsewhere,

presenting commonalities and specificities. They also seek to identify success factors and

challenges in the design and implementation of such initiatives. The Feasibility Studies build

on the scoping papers to provide insight into the feasibility of developing the three

complementary pathways of focus in the ERN+ project.

‘Private Sponsorship in Europe – Expanding complementary pathways for refugee

resettlement’ provides a comprehensive overview of existing sponsorship programmes in

Europe. Learning from the case studies, the paper presents commonalities as well as best

practice and challenges in the implementation of such programmes. Building on this analysis,

a catalogue of the core components central to a successful private sponsorship programme

is identified. ’Private Sponsorship Feasibility Study – Towards a Private Sponsorship Model in

France’ explores the potential for establishing more sustainable private sponsorship

programmes in France, with some general observations for other European States included.

‘Student Scholarships for Refugees: Expanding complementary pathways of admission to

Europe’ is a preliminary exploration of the potential for student scholarship and study

programmes to offer a response to the need for increased opportunities for refugees to arrive

safely in Europe. It draws on experience from countries inside and outside of Europe where

stakeholders have collaborated to offer scholarship opportunities to welcome refugees to

their countries. The ‘Higher Education Scholarships for Refugees: A reference framework for

expanding protection and solutions opportunities through complementary pathways of

admission to Europe’ paper offers a reference tool for interested stakeholders to expand and

strengthen existing programmes and, in particular, to establish new programmes. The paper

includes a short case study on the Netherlands.

‘Humanitarian Admission Programmes in Europe – Expanding complementary pathways of

admission for persons in need of international protection’ maps the humanitarian admission

programmes in Europe to date and how these have developed alongside resettlement as

tailor-made, short-term, and situation-specific programmes with an over-arching common

design and purpose. ‘Humanitarian Admission Programmes – Expanding and Increasing

Pathways to Protection’ explores the main components of possible future “Humanitarian

Admission and Protection Programmes” and offers commentary on the various important

considerations to be taken into account.

All the publications are available at www.resettlement.eu.

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Muhammed Shikhani fled Syria in 2012 to neighbouring

Lebanon, where he found himself with very few

perspectives to continue the trajectory he had planned

for his life before having to leave his country. A

scholarship opportunity in Germany gave him the

chance to follow a new path that would enable him to

continue his studies and build a new future.

In late 2013, after I moved to Lebanon, I registered with the UNHCR

in order to seek legal protection from the instability surrounding me.

Although I had a degree in civil engineering from Syria, the difficulties

of life in Lebanon increased day to day, meaning that finding a chance

for a change and being able to make a positive contribution to my

surroundings were pretty limited in that unsustainable situation.

Safety concerns were a major challenge, in addition to administrative

difficulties regarding obtaining legal residency permits, along with

the social tension with the host community.

My chance finally came with the Leadership for Syria (LFS)

scholarship program from the German Academic Exchange Service

(DAAD), which was announced in 2014. The program at first targeted

Syrians in neighbouring countries, so I applied in December that year

and was surprised that the programme attracted more than 5,000

applicants. Eventually, just 221 people were selected for the available

places. DAAD mainly encouraged applications from individuals who

were engaged in civil society and public activities. For me, the LSF was

more than a passive transfer of money so that I could study in

Germany. The programme design had components extra to the

academic study. It included a multi-month (at least four) German

course even for those who would study in English. In addition, there

was an obligatory additional programme in good governance and civil

society in both online webinars and face-to-face workshop formats

at the University of Konstanz. The LFS was also family-friendly; it

offered support in getting a visa for spouses and extra funds for those

family members. This fact encouraged those who are normally

discouraged to continue their academic studies because of their

family obligations.

I arrived to Germany in June 2015, started my German course in

Marburg, then moved to Karlsruhe in December 2015 to start my

masters in resources engineering at the Karlsruhe institute of

technology (KIT). This was not just a normal chance for a better

degree, but was a chance to work with world class scientists, learn,

and get inspired. That allowed me, after I finished my studies in

September 2017, to move to work in the Lake Research Department

at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Magdeburg

as a PhD candidate for reservoirs modelling under climate change

scenarios. However, one of the main reasons in easing my way

through the process of navigating what to do after I graduated was

that I had an educated German host family in Karlsruhe who offered

me extra support in settling in, in learning the language quickly and

in feeling at home, to some extent.

When I look back at my situation in October 2014, and now after four

years, I see how much this scholarship activated me from being a

passive person waiting for a chance to move, to an empowered

person with both academic tools and with access to a platform to be

part of public activities and discussions, such as the chance to tell my

story in Brussels this year at a European Policy Centre (EPC) event (see

page 5).

One of the main advantages of such scholarships is that they do not only

support individuals with high potential of integration with the host

community, but also some who may facilitate the integration process of

other refugees and migrants. In many examples, the scholarship holders

got engaged in working with local organizations offering support for

refugees. There are two concrete examples of how this active

contribution and engagement occurred. For example, my colleague

from LFS, Nader Ghanem, and other colleagues initiated a fundraising

action for a new scholarship to be funded by the LFS scholarship holders

themselves. He suggested that donating 5-10 euros a month from the

over 200 DAAD scholarship holders would be enough to support two

extra students. It was called “ACADEMPOWER, empower the change”.

In another case, Saleh Mulhem, a PhD candidate at TU Braunschweig

from another DAAD programme, volunteered for a local organization

(Deutsch-Arabischer Bildungsverein), where he helped more than 300

refugee students over three years in registration for study, language

courses, or supported them with academic courses.

I want to highlight here that student scholarship programmes for

refugees to study in Europe should not only be about cooperation

between academic institutions and funding organizations – with the

support of local communities and NGOs in particular, they can turn into

a sustainable success. In fact, such scholarships are not only an

alternative to the dangerous pathways that many refugees are forced

to take to Europe – they also have the potential to be a core component

of a win-win reciprocal arrangement in both receiving from and giving

back to host communities.

Now that I have a couple of stable years ahead of me until I finish my

PhD, I feel that staying in research will grant me the best possibility to

fulfil my goals, along with access to platforms that offer me a chance to

contribute to public affairs. Being a scholar before, and now a doctoral

candidate in a unique research centre has shown how much of a

protective and productive environment the academic circles are. Safety

and development were the two most pressing factors of concern for me

four years ago, but now I feel like I am on a path to a future I want for

myself.

Muhammed’s Story

Leadership for Syria scholarship graduate Muhammed Shikhani ©DAAD

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Policy Debate at the European Policy Centre 20 September 2018

How to expand complementary pathways to Europe for refugees?

Following the conclusion of the ERN+ project on complementary pathways to Europe for people in need of international protection, the ERN partners joined a policy debate hosted by the European Policy Centre (EPC). The ERN partners were joined by Neil Jameson, Founder of Citizens UK, and Muhammed Shikhani, UfZ PhD Student and alumnus of the DAAD Leadership for Syria Scholarship Programme. Discussions took place against the backdrop of the presentation of the Global Compact on Refugees before the UN General Assembly. Based on research commissioned by IOM, ICMC Europe and UNHCR, speakers considered the added value of complementary pathways, including with regard to sustainable integration approaches and the potential to maximise public support through the involvement of local communities. They also explored key considerations for the establishment of complementary pathway programmes, including refugee protection, complementarity with resettlement and responsiveness to global needs. Read the full report on the EPC website.

USEFUL RESOURCES

UNHCR Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2019 – UNHCR, June 2018

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on enhancing legal pathways to Europe: an indispensable part of an balanced and comprehensive migration policy – European Commission, September 2018

Study on the feasibility and added value of sponsorship schemes as a possible pathway to safe channels for admission to the EU, including resettlement – European Commission, October 2018

Three Things the European Union Can Do to Support Private Sponsorship for Refugees – Migration Policy Institute, October 2018

Scaling up Refugee

Resettlement in Europe: The Role of Institutional Peer Support – Migration Policy Institute, March 2018

Progress Report on the

Implementation of the European Agenda on Migration – European Commission, May 2018

ERN+

Visit our website for more information: www.resettlement.eu Sign up for our monthly News Digest here Follow us on Twitter @ResettlementEU Contact us at info@resettlement.eu

ERN+ Newsletter, Issue 3, November 2018

Policy Debate at the EPC