Contact details

Submitted by: Silver Stõun, Ministry of the Interior, Estonia

Introduction to the project 

Country

Estonia

Duration

16 September 2015 - Ongoing

Description

The Refugee Policy Coordination Board and Meeting of the social partners on refugee policy are two separate bodies of cooperation with the aim of sharing information between different ministries, agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved with activities connected to international protection issues.

Project aims 

The main goal of the Refugee Policy Coordination Board is to support the implementation of the Action Plan on the European Union Resettlement and Relocation Schemes and Activities approved at the Government Cabinet meeting on 6^th of August 2015 and support the implementation of resettlement activities in ministries and institutions approved by the government in 2017.

The overall goal of the two forms of cooperation is to centralize and exchange information and share practices on the implementation of international protection policies, including preparation and implementation of resettlement (and relocation) activities.

Main activities of the Good Practice

The objective of the cooperation is for the capacity of Estonian international protection management to increase.

Partners

• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Social Affairs
• Ministry of Culture
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Education and Research
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
• Ministry of Justice
• Government Office of Estonia
• Police and Boarder Guard Board
• Estonian Internal Security Service
• Meeting of the social partners on refugee policy:
• Estonian Refugee Council
• Estonian Human Rights Centre
• UNHCR
• IOM Estonia
• European Migration Network
• Hoolekandeteenused AS
• Estonian Red Cross
• Social Insurance Board
• Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
• Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Family Centre
• Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities
• Members of the Refugee Policy Coordination Board (see above).

Other governmental and nongovernmental actors can be included or asked to participate at the meeting.

Challenges and how they were overcome

Since the two forms of cooperation are meetings held between public sector actors and non-governmental actors, there are no overall challenges to outline.

Next steps 

The meetings continue to be held on a regular basis no less than twice a year. Both forms of cooperation can also be assembled on an ad hoc basis by Ministry of the Interior (or by the request of partners).