Since the start of the Rutte IV government, the Netherlands has invested in bilateral migration partnerships with countries of origin and transit of migrants. IOB examined the extent to which the objectives of the Dutch partnerships were achieved and what lessons can be drawn.
Background
The partnerships have three objectives: to facilitate the return of people without the right of residence in the Netherlands to their country of origin; to counter irregular migration; and to protect migrants in partner countries.
Evaluation
This evaluation examines the extent to which Dutch bilateral migration partnership policy contributed to achieving its objectives between 2022 and 2025.
The evaluation combines various data sources and research methods. These include five literature reviews; a quantitative analysis of return data for the period 2016–2025; case studies in Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey; almost 200 interviews with policy officers, government authorities, international organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders; interviews and focus group discussions with 220 migrants.
Overall Conclusions
Dutch bilateral migration partnership policy has made a limited contribution to achieving the objectives in the countries studied. On facilitating returns, the evaluation only found a small measurable effect in Morocco. There is no effect of supported interventions aimed at influencing migration decisions. The effectiveness of migration management projects could not be assessed sufficiently due to access issues. The effectiveness of protection activities was limited: they often did not sufficiently meet migrants’ needs or were poorly implemented.
There is a tension between the political desire to ‘get a grip on migration’ and the limited extent to which irregular migration and return can be influenced. Both are largely shaped by factors that lie outside the sphere of influence of bilateral migration partnerships.
Main recommendations
- Translate the political mandate into concrete objectives.
a. Formulate realistic objectives that do fall within the Dutch sphere of influence, and take into account evidence on the limited extent to which return and migration can be influenced.
b. Periodically inform the Parliament about progress, existing challenges and how these are being addressed.
- Focus on the concrete interests of partner countries. Ensure clear rule-of-law conditions and safeguards for human rights.
- Revise the use of projects funded under the migration partnership policy.
a. Stop funding interventions for which there is convincing evidence that they are ineffective, such as information campaigns. Also stop funding where access and independent monitoring are not possible.
b. If the policy seeks to contribute to the protection of vulnerable migrants, align the engagement with migrants’ needs.