The MPF convened senior policy makers, EU institutions, partner-country representatives, and leading migration experts to commemorate the first ten years of operations with a two-part event in Brussels on 14 and 15 April 2026.
In a decade, the MPF has grown from a pioneering funding mechanism into a dynamic engine for collaboration, innovation, and policy advancement. Nearly 100 ground-breaking projects, stronger migration partnerships, new research on legal pathways into the EU, and enhanced border and migration management systems—these are just some of the tangible results shaped by MPF partners across Europe and beyond.
The milestone event invited EU Member States, partner countries, practitioners, experts, and stakeholders to discuss what worked and what lies ahead for migration governance, labour mobility, international partnerships, and EU external action.
Flexibility and responsiveness: how MPF evolved since 2016
Reflecting on the evolution of the MPF in its first ten years of existence, Mr Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director-General, International Affairs and Migration at DG HOME, complimented the Facility for its transformation “as a flexible laboratory for innovation on migration policy” and a “tool for EU Member States, EU Delegations and partner countries” in his keynote remarks.
Speaking to an audience of 150 peers, he reviewed MPF’s role in building solid migration partnerships in labour mobility, migration management, return, readmission, reintegration, border management, document security, visas, countering the smuggling of migrants and combating trafficking in human beings.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the External Dimension
The panel brought a forward‑looking perspective, highlighting the evolving geopolitical and policy landscape shaping EU migration cooperation.
Speakers agreed that the EU is better equipped than it was a decade ago thanks to strengthened legal frameworks, improved tools and growing experience in migration diplomacy. However, they also stressed that migration dynamics are changing rapidly, driven by conflicts, demographic pressures, climate-related mobility and emerging hybrid threats such as the instrumentalisation of migration flows.
From an EU Member State perspective, Mr Tomas Urubek, Head of Unit for International Relations and European Affairs at the Ministry of Interior of Czechia, emphasised the growing interdependence between internal and external migration policies by saying, “The link between internal and external migration policy is stronger than ever before… migration does not start at EU borders, and our responses must reflect the full route.”
The discussion underscored that future cooperation must go beyond migration itself, integrating development, labour mobility and political dialogue into a comprehensive approach.
The first decade in review: MPF grantees take centre stage
An action plan to harmonise visa procedures with EU standards in Bosnia Herzegovina; an accredited university-level course in the Netherlands with an alumni network spanning 42 partner countries; four one-stop-shops that facilitate migrant integration in Cabo Verde; and a series of initiatives bringing the Baltic countries closer to IT talent abroad – these were a few of the projects selected to showcase the MPF’s achievements during its first ten years of existence.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, cooperation with the Swedish Migration Agency under the Visa Capacity Building project has accelerated progress towards alignment with EU visa standards:
“In the last two years, we have made much more progress towards aligning our visa policies than what had been achieved in the previous decade.” Mr Frano Planinic, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated to the audience.
At the same time, capacity-building initiatives such as the Migration Management Diploma Programme have supported policymakers across partner countries by strengthening both technical expertise and professional networks.
Ms Carmem Barros, President of the High Authority for Immigration of Cabo Verde, reflected on the broader impact of her participation by stating that, “The peer learning and intercultural exchange… helped realise how cooperation, coordination, solidarity and policy coherence in migration management are essential in today’s world.”
Meanwhile, innovative labour mobility initiatives such as Digital Explorers II showcased how partnerships can deliver benefits across sectors and geographies. The programme has not only enabled skills development and employment opportunities but also strengthened ties between countries and industries: “Every individual journey not only changed their personal trajectory, but also impacted their family, and established new business partnerships between countries” as Mr Žilvinas Švedkauskas, Managing Director at OSMOS, Lithuania, noted.
Scaling Ambition: Labour Mobility for Shared Benefits
The panel “Labour flows for shared benefits” focused on the next phase of labour mobility cooperation and the move from pilot initiatives to scalable systems. EU-level tools such as Talent Partnerships, the EU Talent Pool, and initiatives like the European Legal Gateway Office in India were presented as critical building blocks for structured labour migration. However, speakers stressed that success now depends on implementation.
The discussion underscored that sustainable labour migration depends on building coherent, end-to-end systems that benefit workers, employers and societies alike.
Responding to Complexity: Migration Management in a Changing World
The final session addressed the increasing complexity of migration governance, shaped by technological change, geopolitical developments and evolving smuggling networks. Speakers highlighted the need for greater speed, coordination and adaptability, particularly in responding to transnational criminal activities.
Mr Behram Khan, Director at the Federal Investigation Agency (Balochistan Zone, Pakistan), reliving the experience and knowledge acquired through the RAPAK I and II projects, stressed the importance of real-time intelligence to bolster migration management operations, noting that “Faster, real‑time intelligence sharing is essential to move from reactive to proactive responses to smuggling networks.”
At the same time, speakers repeatedly stressed that efficiency must be balanced with respect for fundamental rights, ensuring that migration management systems remain both effective and legitimate.
Heading into the next decade – a new Call for Proposals
Reflecting on the event and the discussions, Jennifer Tangney, Senior Programme Coordinator, MPF said, “Across all sessions, one message stood out clearly: the strength of the MPF lies in its ability to translate cooperation into tangible outcomes, from institutional reform and capacity building to real opportunities for individuals.”
As MPF moves into the next decade of implementation, it will continue to offer a trusted avenue to channel EU funding into new joint priorities for EU Member States and partner countries. A new Call for Proposals ahead of summer break 2026 will provide new opportunities to create and consolidate migration partnerships.
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