Migration statistics in the MEDSTAT II Programme. Demand of international cooperation and coordination

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Migration statistics in theMEDSTAT II
Programme.Demand of international cooperation
and coordination
G. Cantisani (ISTAT Expert), Y. Courbage (INED)
Thematic Experts for Migration
Joint UNECE / Eurostat Work Session on Migration
Statistics, Edinburgh, 20-22 Nov. 2006
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Content
1. MEDSTAT II2. MEDSTAT II
Migrationcovering MED-Migr I experience
objectives situation in the countries
other main findings
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MEDSTAT II objectives
MEDSTAT II envisages the consolidation of
Euro-Mediterranean statistical cooperation
through the deepening of the work already
undertaken from 1996 to 2003Objectives are
referred as follows

• Institutional and inter-institutional
  strengthening
• Harmonisation
• Data exchange
• Visibility
• Service to users

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MEDSTAT II main elements

• 3 year project, with a complex organisation based
  on 11 priority sectors, 10 countries, 3 lots,
  asking an high coordination
• A more demand-driven approach, with deep
  involvement of the NSIs in the strategic
  orientation and a country tailored implementation
  process
• A focus on production, exchange, dissemination
  and final use of statistics, with attention to
  ownership and durability of activities
• Inception phase gtgtgt Orientation gtgtgt
  Implementation gtgtgt Completion

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MEDSTAT I for Migration(MED-Migr I)

• A project implemented through two phasesmostly
  including
• Assessment and documentation of the legal
  framework and available statistics
• Strengthening inter-institutional collaboration
• Enhancement of systems of border cards and
  residence permits, including pilot work,
  resulting in recommendations and two manuals for
  adapting the systems
• A proposal for emigration modules in census /
  surveys
• Data collection, no publication given the limited
  availability and comparability of data
• Intensive dissemination of documentation

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MEDSTAT II MigrationObjectives
ToRs are for focusing on what can be
realistically reached during a three year period,
i.e. contributing to the improvement of the
sustainable capacity of the MED NSSs to upgrade
the production of statistics on migration

1. Strengthening the capacities to measure migration
   through the exploitation of administrative
   systems
2. Satisfying users needs by conducting surveys
3. Satisfying ad hoc needs

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Statistical sources

• Overall few annual statistics
• Varying level of migration measurement in
  censuses and surveys but some more exploitation
  in recent and forthcoming operations
• Migration surveys often depending from the
  availability of resources, inclusion of modules
  in survey is prevalent
• Better situation for NSI having more autonomy
• Anyway infrequent operations, limitedly answering
  to all the requests and needs

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• Administrative sources

• Border cards (or border registration) widely used
  for statistics, normally no relevant for
  migration
• Register of residence permits as stronger system
  on the whole, although some limitations and
  significant differences very limitedly used for
  statistics
• Other administrative sources differently
  developed and limitedly / not regularly used for
  (unofficial) statistics
• Authorities in overall ready for requests they
  could have, but needing some resources upgrading

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Demand from users

• Increasing interest in migration, research
  undertaken to varying extents
• Main interest on emigration / nationals residing
  abroad, returning migration, foreign immigration
• Requests for statistics not enough satisfied
  some criticism on lack of funding, fragmentation
  of activities, limitations in statistics and in
  the access to data of destination countries due
  to its high cost
• Strong demand of international collaboration and
  coordination

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Other findings

• NSSs for migration not sufficiently coordinated,
  with national committees not existing / poorly
  operating there is some lack of understanding
  about the usefulness and the practical
  implications for statistics
• NSIs strongly aim to development, what is largely
  depending on administrative partners. A good
  level of potential cooperation was found in
  overall
• At level of NSIs, recruitment / reallocation of
  staff is often planned training, information,
  technical assistance, better equipment and access
  to communication means are necessary

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Conclusion

• Implementation of capacity building measures and
  support to the planned surveys, normally with
  varying activities and achievements, depending
  from country
• Pending validation from the Sector Task Force,
  the activities could also go towards the access
  to data produced by other countries and the
  conduction of works or studies jointly between
  countries
• Which data sources? Which modalities?

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Thank you