The event will take place at the Akademie für Politische Bildung in Tutzing and online. As the number of seats on-site is very limited, we kindly ask for timely registration until September 28, 2022.

Opening Remarks

Prof. Dr. Ursula Münch, Director, Akademie für Politische Bildung, Tutzing
Dr. Christian Hagemann, Executive Director, Southeast Europe Association

Panelists

H.E. Liza Gashi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo
Corinna Wicher, Director, Directorate-General 7 Security, Law on Residence, and Returns, German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
Dr. Nilay Kılınç, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Helsinki
Samir Beharić, Ph.D. Candidate, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg    

Moderation

Prof. Dr. Rozita Dimova, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje

Topic

Return migration is a multifaceted concept. Return plans and practices are dynamic activities that constantly adapt to the changing migration politics and policies, social and economic circumstances in the countries of origin or settlement as well as to the immediate crises and events in the life of the migrant himself/herself and his/her family. Return migration can have various effects on returnees themselves as well as on the relationship between migrants/returnees and non-migrants in the societies of return. 

The discussion therefore aims at contrasting the affective aspect of the decision to return and juxtaposing it with the national and international regulations that facilitate or prevent a smooth resettlement. The roundtable will feature persons of public interest who have been through the experience of remigration, practitioners from Germany who are involved in assisting in the resettlement process to another country, as well as academics who critically deal with the concept of mobility and return migration. Key questions that will be discussed are the following: What are the main reasons for deciding to re-settle in one’s native country after years spent abroad? What are the hurdles on this way of re-migration on both sides of the spectrum in the context of Southeastern Europe? Which instruments exist to facilitate the process of return and how effective are they? How do the countries of origin deal with the integration of returnees?