New Report Release: Country Dossier Lebanon Explores Complexities of Return Migration Governance in the Middle East
We are pleased to announce the publication of the Country Dossier Lebanon: WP4 - Return Migration Governance in the African and Middle Eastern Regions and the Role of the EU, authored by Nora Stel and Maissam Nimer. This report is part of our ongoing commitment to broaden perspectives on return migration governance, with a focus on the diverse realities faced by refugees in the Global South.
The dossier critically examines the impact of regional return systems on migration dynamics, highlighting Lebanon as a key case study due to its substantial Syrian refugee population. Through in-depth document analysis and expert interviews, Stel and Nimer uncover the intricate interplay between Lebanon's fragmented return policies and the EU's external migration strategies. Their findings reveal the significant legal, socioeconomic, and political pressures influencing migration flows, marked by lacking monitoring and varied agendas among stakeholders.
A core contribution of this dossier is its challenge to the prevalent Eurocentric bias in return migration studies. By amplifying the often-overlooked perspectives of Global South countries, this report underscores the need for migration policies that respect the complex realities of neighboring countries like Lebanon, which are directly impacted by EU policies.
Among the report’s critical findings are shifts in return modalities for Syrian refugees, including a decline in voluntary returns and a troubling rise in forced returns, self-organized returns, and deportations. The report emphasizes how these shifts are shaped not only by Lebanese governance pressures but also by the Syrian government’s ambivalent stance on receiving returnees.
This Country Dossier Lebanon contributes valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to foster more inclusive and context-sensitive return migration strategies, in line with our project’s objective to build a more balanced and informed understanding of return migration governance in the Middle East and Africa.
Read the full report [here] to learn more about Lebanon’s return migration dynamics and the critical role of the EU in shaping regional policies.
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