Established– 1997 in Copenhagen by 6 National RC Societies

Aim– Improving the situation of refugees, asylum

seekers and migrants by strengthening cooperation amongst RC-NS

1. PERCO in Brief

Key Objectives

- Provide a framework to facilitate cooperation & networking - Improve the capacity of RC-NS in the field of asylum and migration- Develop RC activities in the area of migration and asylum- Strengthen advocacy role of RC-NS - Share Experience & Promote Good Practice

1. PERCO in Brief

Members– 21 RC-NS

Observers– RC EU-Office: information on EU policies

and funding opportunities.– IFRC: information about developments

within the movement– ICRC: contribution on issues of common

interest (e.g.: tracing, detention)

1. PERCO in Brief

Membership - qualificationsOpen to all National Societies from

• EU-Member States• European Free Trade Area -

Member States• EU Accession Countries• SAP-Countries

1. PERCO in Brief

Framework / Working Method– Terms of Reference– Biannual Strategy– Meetings: General Meeting & Annual General

Meeting– Steering Group Meetings– Working Groups on Specific Topics / Focal

Points– Work Plans– Drafting of Position Papers– Website

1. PERCO in Brief

Steering Group

• 2 Co-Chairs: Austrian and Finnish RC

• 4 PERCO Members

• 3 Observers

1. PERCO in Brief

2. Major Achievements

Publications– Guidelines on “Cultural Diversity”, “Reception of

Asylum Seekers”, “Repatriation”

– Survey on „Irregular Migration“ and Development of Recommendations to NS

– Expert Input for Position Papers of EU-Office (e.g. Green Paper on Economic Migration)

– Discussion Paper on Role of NS in Detention

– Discussion Paper on Transit Processing Centres

2. Major Achievements

Activities– Representing IFRC during European Hearing of the Global

Commission on International Migration (Budapest 2004)

– Expert base for ERF-Projects • Open Forum on Reception 2003• Open Forum on Reception & Health 2006• Open Forum on Return 2006

– Active Role of PERCO network in the Preparation Process of the European Regional Conference 2007

– Consultants to the RC EU office on common EU-policies in the migration field

2. Major Achievements

Well functioning network of experts on migration / asylum which serves the RC movement in terms of

• source for project partnerships

• technical expertise

Five Key Topics– Return – Integration / Anti-Discrimination– Detention– Reception– Irregular migration

3. The next two years