Surmounting information sharing gaps is key to realising the promise of predeparture counselling to support returning migrants’ sustainable reintegration

BRUSSELS — European policymakers are increasingly investing in assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) programmes to incentivise the departure of irregular migrants and denied asylum seekers and to foster their sustainable reintegration. While the lion’s share of reintegration assistance takes place after returnees arrive in their countries of origin, policymakers and practitioners in the field increasingly recognise that counselling at the predeparture stage can play a key role in smoothing return and supporting reintegration.