Leveraging Predeparture Counseling to Support Returning Migrants’ Sustainable Reintegration

This policy brief discusses the expansion of assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) programs across the European Union, driven by the need to increase the return rate of migrants without the right to stay in Europe. These programs are considered cost-effective, humane, and diplomatically pragmatic, aiming to help migrants reintegrate into their communities of origin.

The brief highlights the importance of initiating reintegration support before migrants return to their origin countries through predeparture counseling. This approach can help migrants better understand life after return and provide valuable information to origin-country service providers. However, the potential of predeparture counseling may be limited if information gaps between actors in origin and destination countries are not addressed. The brief outlines the challenges and explores strategies to improve information exchange and leverage predeparture counseling for sustainable reintegration.