2009: "M” stands for MIEUX
MIEUX started its operations on 01 January 2009. On the 4th of April, the first request, from Mauritius, was received (but rejected), followed by requests from Malawi and Mozambique: it seems that the 13th letter of the alphabet – M – is MIEUX’s lucky number …The first MIEUX mission also took place in an “M” country – in Malawi, in September 2009. Overall, 20 requests were received in the first year of operations.
2010: The experts are the vehicle of MIEUX
In 2010, MIEUX launched the Expert and Action Roster that facilitates the identification and deployment of experts all over the world. Since 2009, MIEUX has mobilised more than 400 experts, and presently, 640 CVs are included in the database. In 2012, MIEUX would start deploying experts from the so-called “South”, including from the partner countries that benefited from previous MIEUX activities. Also in 2010, the first regional requests were received, mainly from the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Eastern Partnership countries, West and Central Africa, and COMESA.
2011: MIEUX becomes a truly global, well-known programme
2011 brought to an end the first phase of MIEUX. During the 36 months of its existence, MIEUX received 50 requests, largely from Africa and, to a certain extent, from the Eastern Neighbourhood, becoming, therefore, a well-oiled EU migration programme.
2012: From MIEUX I to MIEUX II
The second phase of MIEUX started, enlarging the thematic scope of the initiative. Focus shifted from “irregular migration” to all areas of migration, in line with the revised EU’s Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (2011). 2012 was the year when MIEUX put down roots in Southeast Asia. A region-wide Action, involving all ASEAN countries, led not only to targeted debates on migration and development across the region, for the first time, but also to a series of requests from a large number of ASEAN Member States.
2013: Policy-making becomes one of the main features of MIEUX
2013 brought a new trend among many countries – the necessity to enhance migration data, and develop comprehensive or sectoral migration-related policies. For example, the requests from and actions in Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Jordan and Malawi gave MIEUX a tremendous opportunity to support its partners in devising targeted methodologies on how to craft policies, strategies and actions plans on multiple migration topics.
2014: Diaspora engagement is the new global trend
2014 saw a proliferation of requests on diaspora engagement policies across Africa. Burundi, Ghana and Malawi, to name but a few, partnered with MIEUX in order to support their efforts and endeavours in devising policy documents to get closer to their diasporas all over the world.
2015: MIEUX’s breakthrough in Latin America and the Caribbean
The year 2015 finally took MIEUX to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Even though some sporadic Actions had taken place previously, in 2015 MIEUX managed to establish various lasting partnerships across the region. The Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru, to name a few, saw the benefits of cooperating with MIEUX, triggering, therefore, a wave of subsequent requests that anchored MIEUX in the region.
2016: MIEUX III arrives
Good news! MIEUX enters its third phase by expanding the profile of targeted partners. As such, since 2016 MIEUX is entitled to receive joint requests from governmental and non-governmental entities, ombudspersons’ institutions, national parliaments, local authorities, etc
Furthermore, the first mission to the furthest country away from MIEUX’s base was conducted this year – to Timor Leste. Overall, 2016 sees the highest number of requests ever received in a single year – 23.
2017: Enhancing migration governance
The Neighbourhood is back! Following a hiatus, 2017 saw several Actions implemented in the EU Neighbourhood, chiefly in Belarus, Jordan and Moldova. All these partner countries cooperate with the EU under the framework of the Mobility Partnerships, an advanced cooperation instrument of the EU, contributing to better governance of migration. Numerous MIEUX Actions, all over the world, spearheaded the establishment or functioning of inter-agency structures of coordination on migration that enhance migration governance through a whole-of-government approach.
2018: MIEUX turns 10 years old!
To celebrate its anniversary, MIEUX brought its partners together by organising a series of Round-tables on MIEUX’s impact in Africa, Asia and LAC. For the very first time, MIEUX was also present at the European Development Days in Brussels, with an event on gender and migration policy-making, as well as at the Global Forum on Migration and Development, in Marrakesh, with a side event on the role of capacity building in implementing the Global Compact on Migration.
Acknowledgements
The author expresses his gratitude to all the experts and partner countries involved in MIEUX, as well as to the previous and current colleagues who have contributed to making MIEUX a remarkable success on all the meridians and parallels of the globe: Lukas and Ralph (the ‘founding fathers’ of the programme), Chantal, Inês, Ann, Sergio, Julien F., Akram, Alfred, Pauline, Nabeela, Olivia F., Julie, Giulia C., Antonio, Naozad, Sarah S., Stephanie, Caterina, Vadim, Markel, Jurgita, Sarah R., Romain, Luigi, Laura, Elena, Naike as well as several interns who have invaluably contributed to its success over the 10-year period. On the side of the EU, all present and past members of the MIEUX Project Steering Group, composed of members from the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), the Directorate General on Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the EU External Action Service (EEAS).