Study Visit in Austria on practices/procedures of return/readmission of third country nationals to their country of origin.

EU4LEA project, in close cooperation with the Joint Coordination Platform (JCP) Vienna and the Austrian Ministry of Interior organized a study visit to Vienna, Austria for three Border and Migration Department employees and one employee of Asylum, Citizenship and Foreigners Directorate at the Ministry of Interior, on 25 -27 January 2023.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the Albanian delegation to the Austrian model of return and readmission process of third country nationals (irregular migrants) to their country of origin, exchanging experiences on the organization of pre-return operations, cooperation with third countries, embassies, and consulates, as well as on procedures and technical aspects of operations, identifying areas of cooperation and support for Albanian authorities.

The delegation was introduced to Austrian Asylum System, including application for asylum, restrictive measures during the asylum procedure, conjunction of asylum- and return decision, and the information on the country of origin. Site visits were also made to Vienna Airport and different departments and centres involved in these processes.

EU4LEA Project will continue to support Albanian migration and asylum structures to create the required basis for the implementation of return operations.