The 1st VRENET (Establishment of a Multilateral Network among Various Countries on Voluntary Returns) transnational meeting was held in Nicosia from the 3-4 of April 2014. The meeting was hosted by University of Nicosia, project’s coordinator and its partner, CARDET LTD.

At this meeting, the cases of five Euro-Mediterranean countries were presented and compared regarding their policies and programmes on voluntary returns of Third Country Nationals. The outcomes are very hopeful as well as important and the partners reached initial conclusions.

Here is snapshot of the situation in the of the main meeting’s activities:

Introduction to the Euro-Mediterranean Voluntary Return Network Project

Definition of Assisted Voluntary Returns

Presentations by Members:

• Veneto Lavoro - Italy
• Municipality of Madrid – Spain 
• Menedek- Hungarian Association for Migrants - Hungary
• PRAKSIS – Greece
• Caritas Lebanon
  
  

VRENET Web Portal Presentation (www.vrenet.org)

Discussion on:

• Good Practices
• Online debate and online meetings
• Social Economy
• Protection and Development
  
  

Participants Feedback and Contribution

The project team received a good feedback from the participants on how to further improve VRENET. Further conclusions and fine tuning of the tools and results were agreed during the meeting in Nicosia and will be implemented in the following months.