TP cannot be granted any more.

Deportation on safe third country grounds has been resumed after a suspension period.

TP has been granted only to ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, either arriving under the HEP or individually.

No TP regime is available for Serbs and Roma from Kosovo. They may lodge an asylum application.

Kosovo Albanians arrived under the HEP have been accommodated in reception centres throughout the country. They receive some pocket money.

Repatriation has started on a voluntary basis. Travel expenses are covered. In addition, returning refugees are given 3,000 AS per person (218 EURO). The Austrian government provide transport to an Austrian airport, whereas IOM is in charge of onward travel to final destinations in Kosovo, via Skopje.

The government have not taken any official position on ‘go and see’ visits.

Total number of assisted returns as of 11 August: 1,239 [source: IOM].

TP: 6 months residence permit, renewable, with right to work and family reunification.

Beneficiaries of TP may apply for asylum at any time.

Only ethnic Albanians from Kosovo may benefit from TP.

Returning refugees receive 10,000 FB per person (approximately 247 EURO).

Return operations are carried out by IOM, via Skopje.

Exploratory trips are allowed. The head of family can go to Kosovo and see what the situation is like. He/she has to obtain a travel document from the provincial administration. In addition, Kosovo Albanians under TP who have also lodged an asylum application must obtain an authorisation to return, not to lose the right to have their asylum claim examined.

Travel expenses for exploratory trips are totally at the refugee’s charge. Refugees must leave on IOM flights.

So far, no exploratory trip has taken place. FYROM has decided to accept a ‘European laissez-passer’ issued by the Belgian authorities as a suitable identification document for refugees in transit. However, problems remain as to the issuance of ‘collective visas’ for groups of refugees going on exploratory visit, and the duration of the visit itself. Even if the Belgian regulation states that refugees have to come back to Belgium within the period of validity of their residence permit, FYROM authorities demand that the return trip takes place within 15 days.

Kosovan refugees arriving under the HEP and spontaneous arrivals.

Information on the return programme has been widely circulated. So far, approximately 400 refugees have expressed the wish to repatriate. Return operations are co-ordinated by IOM.

Travel expenses are covered. In addition, returning refugees are given financial assistance of 18,000 DKK per person (2,418 EURO) and 6,000 DKK per child (806 EURO). Expenses of maximum 10,000 DKK (1,344 EURO) are covered to purchase equipment which is necessary to work or rebuild the house; health insurance and medical expenses will be paid for one year following return.

Returning refugees are given a European laissez-passer, issued by the Danish authorities, which is withdrawn upon arrival in Kosovo.

Exploratory visits to Kosovo have been organised for a few cases (8 people), with IOM participation. No other exploratory visits are scheduled at the moment.

Returnees may decide to come back to Denmark within 3 months. In this case, they will have to cover their own travel expenses.

The government is still considering how to implement this provision. In theory, returnees should apply at the nearest Danish diplomatic representation, which is in Albania. In order to facilitate the process, an involvement of UNHCR Pristina is being considered.

TP: 11 months residence permit, renewable up to 3 years, with right to work.

Kosovo Albanians.

Total number of arrivals under the HEP: 960.

Kosovo Albanians are accommodated in 10 reception centres throughout the country.

A questionnaire was circulated in the reception centres in order to enquire about refugees’ will to return to Kosovo. Nearly 300 refugees indicated that they wish to return shortly.

Repatriation operations have started, with IOM participation. The first flight has left on 12 August, with 216 returning refugees on board. A second flight is scheduled for 14 August.

Repatriation is a voluntary. Travel costs are covered. In addition, returning refugees are given an allowance of 670 EURO per person and 1,350 EURO per family.

Returnees may decide to come back to Finland within the validity of their residence permit. In this case, they will have to cover their own travel expenses.

A ‘fact finding mission’ is due to leave shortly with a view to assessing the situation in the Kosovo province. In addition to Finnish authorities, participants will include agencies involved in the return programme as well as representatives selected by Kosovan refugees in Finland among themselves.

Kosovo Albanians arriving under the HEP are given a 3 month residence permit, renewable for 1 year, with right to work.

They can lodge an asylum application at any time.

Last arrival under the HEP on 6 July: 30 people (out of 1,000 expected).

On 21 July, a circular letter was issued providing the main guidelines for the assisted return of Kosovan refugees. Repatriation is voluntary. Operations are co-ordinated by IOM.

Beneficiaries of the assisted return programme include any refugee from Kosovo having a residence permit in France, irrespective of the way they arrived in France, the type of residence permit and the fact that they are accommodated in reception centres.

Kosovan refugees may opt for either final return to Kosovo or exploratorty trips.

If they opt for final return, refugees receive 3,000 FF (459 EURO) per person and 1,000 FF per child (153 EURO). In principle, repatriation is intended for family groups. However, the return of only some family members is possible, provided that minor children are left with a parental guardian.

Exploratory trips are possible for the head of family or another family member who is of age. Only one person per family can take advantage of this possibility. He/she is expected to come back to France within 10-15 days, according to flight availability. A financial aid of 600 FF will be granted.

Returning refugees are issued with travel documents so as to allow them to travel to Kosovo and, in the case of exploratory trips, to go back to France.

Total number of assisted returns as of 11 August: 401 [source: IOM].

Kosovo Albanians arriving under the HEP have been granted the status for victims of civil war/war-like situations (3 month renewable residence permit, with right to work. No family reunification). Holders of this status may not apply for asylum.

Total number of arrivals under the HEP: 14,689.

Voluntary return operations have started, with IOM participation. Refugees fly to Skopje and then are transferred to Kosovo by bus. No direct IOM flights on Pristina have taken place so far.

Travel costs are covered. In addition, returning refugees are given an incentive of 300 DM (153 EURO) per person over 12 and 150 DM (76,5 EURO per child up to the age of 12, for a maximum of 1500 DM per family (765 EURO). Once in Kosovo, they receive 450 DM (230 EURO) per adult and 225 DM (115 EURO) per child up to the age of 12, though no more than 1,350 DM (690 EURO) per family, as a temporary relief payment.

The government has not taken any official position on exploratory visits.

Voluntary return operations have started, with IOM participation.

People coming from the area of conflict, either arriving under the HEP or individually.

The 6,000 Kosovo Albanians who have arrived under the HEP have been accommodated in the former military base of Comiso, Sicily. Accommodation is granted until 31 December 1999. No financial allowance is given.

Kosovo Albanians who have arrived spontaneously are accommodated in reception centres located throughout the country. The duration for which accommodation is granted may vary according to reception capacity. Beneficiaries of TP, unlike asylum applicants, are not given any financial allowance. A high number of refugees have left the reception centres.

The Italian government has repatriated Kosovo Albanians arrived under the HEP, without IOM assistance.

Repatriation is voluntary. No financial incentive or grant is given to those who return.

As of 23 July, only 250 refugees out of 5,829 arrived under the HEP were still traceable: 3,894 had returned to Kosovo on Italian military flights, while 1,626 had left individually for unknown destinations.

No TP regime.

An asylum request can be lodges at any time.

People coming from the Kosovo province.

Assisted return can take place on a voluntary basis. Travel expenses are covered. In addition, returning refugees receive a financial allowance of approximately 275 EURO per adult and 150 EURO per child. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering the possibility of increasing financial help once the concerned person/family is back in Kosovo.

Return operations are carried out by IOM.

All Kosovo Albanians who have applied for asylum have been granted TP automatically (1 year residence permit, renewable. Right to work only after 1 year. Family reunification only after 3 years, provided that they meet all the requirements for aliens in general).

TP cannot be granted any more. The status is not withdrawn to those who have already obtained it.

Only ethnic Albanians from Kosovo benefit from TP.

Serbs, Roma, and ethnic Albanians from Kosovo who arrive now may lodge an asylum application.

Repatriation has started on a voluntary basis and is carried out in co-operation with IOM. Returning refugees are given a financial aid of 1,250 fl. per person (567 EURO) and 1,750 fl. (794 EURO) for a family with two children (with 200 fl. per additional child), provided that they arrived under the HEP. Kosovan refugees who did not arrive under the HEP may benefit from assisted return, but they get a financial allowance of 500 fl. per person (227 EURO) and 700 fl. per family with two children (318 EURO). The allowance is paid in German currency.

Exploratory trips are not allowed.

It is not possible for returnees to come back to the Netherlands within the validity of the residence permit and resume their legal status (the residence permit is withdrawn before departure for Kosovo).

Returning refugees who do not have passports receive a European laissez-passer, which is withdrawn upon arrival in Kosovo.

FYROM authorities has agreed to consider the ‘European laissez-passer’ as a valid identity/travel document for returning refugees transiting by land through Macedonia. However, refugees have been issued with the laissez-passer even if all returns have taken place on Pristina airport.

‘Collective protection’ for 4 years, with 1 year renewable residence permit. Right to work and family reunification.

‘Collective protection’ is granted to people coming from Kosovo, irrespective of the fact that they arrived individually or under the HEP.

Repatriation is voluntary. Operations are carried out with IOM assistance.

Refugees who want to repatriate are given financial assistance of 15,000 Norwegian Crowns per person (1,813 EURO), with no maximum limit per family. Those who wish to return will be given back their travel documents. If they do not have any, they will be issued with a Norwegian Aliens Passport.

Returnees may come back to Norway and resume ‘collective protection’, provided that they come back before the expiry of their residence permit. In this case, they have to pay for the flight to Norway. They also have to reimburse the financial aid they received.

Information on the return programme is being circulated in the reception centres, where it is also possible to obtain the forms to take part in the programme.

In order to circulate information on the assisted return programme, the Portuguese Refugee Council (PRC) has visited the reception centres where Kosovan refugees are accommodated.

Return operations are co-ordinated by IOM. PRC staff are present at the airport during departures.

Returning refugees do not receive any financial support from the government.

Exploratory visits are not allowed.

When refugees accept to benefit from assisted return, they lose their legal status in Portugal.

Return can take place only for entire family groups. If they do not have a travel document, a substitutive laissez-passer is issued.

Total number of assisted returns as of 11 August: 985 [source: IOM].

Kosovo Albanians arriving under the HEP have been granted residence on exceptional grounds; right to work.

Kosovo Albanians arrived under the HEP have been accommodated in large reception centres (for 100-200 people) for one month, and then transferred to smaller reception centres. In principle, no time limit has been fixed for accommodation, but the ‘reception phase’ is thought to last for about 6 months. In this phase, refugees will be able to attend language tuition courses, vocational training and other programmes so that they can become self-sufficient.

The government has set up a repatriation programme for those who wish to return to Kosovo. Priority is given to some professional categories who can contribute to reconstruction in Kosovo, such as medical staff and administrators, as well as to family groups.

Given the high number of refugees having expressed the wish to return, a special commission has been set up with a view to establishing a priority order among those who participate in the programme.

Those who decide to return lose their legal status in Spain. Financial aid is given once in Kosovo. Operations will be co-ordinated by IOM and UNHCR. Refugees will fly to Skopje and then will be transported to their final destinations in Kosovo.

For the time being, exploratory trips are not allowed, but it seems that the government could reconsider this possibility in the future.

TP: 11 month residence permit, renewable for 1 additional year, with right to work.

Kosovo Albanians who have been granted the 11 months residence permit may participate in a special return programme, which is co-ordinated by IOM. They receive a financial incentive of 5,000 SK per person (566 EURO), with a maximum of 30,000 per family (3,400 EURO).

Undocumented refugees who wish to return to Kosovo are issued with a special travel document.

Exploratory trips are not allowed. Returnees may come back to Sweden within the validity of the residence permit. In this case, they have to pay for travel costs to come back to Sweden, but they do not have to reimburse the financial assistance they received.

Since 16 August TP cannot be granted any more.

Decision-making on asylum applications from Kosovo Albanians had been temporarily frozen. It has been resumed since 1 July 1999.

TP is granted to people having their last residence in Kosovo, irrespective of their ethnic origin.

Total number of arrivals under the HEP: 1,800.

Registration of asylum applications and/or HEP is carried out in the reception centres located near the border. Due to more than 9,000 new arrivals in June, reception capacity was over-stretched.

After registration, refugees are transferred in reception centres throughout the country. Meals are provided, as well as pocket money.

Repatriation has started on a voluntary basis in co-operation with IOM. Approximately 2,500 refugees are expected to return by the end of August 1999.

Return will take place in three phases:

1. refugees who return by 31 December 1999 obtain financial assistance, provided that they have benefited from TP and entered Switzerland before 1 July 1999. The allowance amounts to 2,000 CHF per person (1,250 EURO) and 1,000 CHF per child (625 EURO). Reconstruction kits (plastic sheets, wooden material, tools) will be provided once in Kosovo;
2. refugees who return by 31 May 2000 will receive a reduced financial allowance;
3. refugees who return to Kosovo after 31 May 2000 do not benefit from any special treatment in comparison to other aliens.

Kosovan refugees arrived in Switzerland after 30 June 1999 do not benefit from any special treatment for return.

Any application for a legal residence permit in Switzerland must be withdrawn in order to apply for financial assistance.

Total number of arrivals under the HEP: 5,765.

On 22 July, UNHCR-BO Ankara, in co-operation with the Turkish government and IOM, accomplished the registration for voluntary repatriation of the Kosovan refugees who are accommodated in the reception camp of Gaziosmanpasa, in Kirklareli.

Since 27 July, a similar registration has been carried out for Kosovan refugees staying in Istanbul. 290 refugees were registered for repatriation.

Repatriation is voluntary. Only refugees who have arrived in Turkey before 21 June 1999 may benefit from assisted return. Travel costs are covered. In addition, returning refugees receive 50 US$ per person (47 EURO). Undocumented refugees who wish to return are provided with travel documents during the registration.

Return will be organised towards the following destinations: Pristina, Prizren, Urosevac/Felizaj, Gilan, Djakovic, Pec. IOM flights are scheduled for 17, 24 and 31 August. It is estimated that approximately 200 refugees will return with these flights.

As most of the Kosovan refugees are staying in Western provinces such as Istanbul, Bursa, Silivri and Yalova, it is likely that a high number of refugees remain still unregistered for repatriation.

Total number of arrivals under the HEP: 4,253.

Repatriation operations have started. They are co-ordinated by IOM.

Both Kosovo Albanians arrived in the UK under the HEP and those who arrived independently can avail themselves of assisted return.

Returning refugees are given 250 £ per person (375 EURO), regardless of age. Go-and-see trips are not allowed at the moment, but the government is considering this possibility. The Home Office has issued laissez-passer to undocumented refugees.

Total number of assisted returns as of 6 August: 276 [source: BRC, Kosovan Programme].

Out of a total of 276 returnees, 269 had arrived under the HEP and 6 independently [source: BRC, Kosovan Programme].

One factor which may strongly affect the decision to return is the type of profession an individual has, and the expectation to find a job upon return. On the second flight (6 August), for instance, there were many teachers, engineers and students independently [source: BRC, Kosovan Programme].