IPA CIS and International Experts Discuss Future of Common Migration Space in CIS

Representatives of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS (IPA CIS), national parliaments, international organizations and expert communities discussed the future of a common migration space within the Commonwealth during a series of meetings and conferences held in St. Petersburg and Minsk.

A major focus of the discussions was the updated Concept of a Common Migration Space of the CIS, prepared by a working group of the IPA CIS. The document aims to modernize migration regulation mechanisms, strengthen coordination among CIS member states and respond to new economic, demographic and technological challenges.

Speaking at the international conference “Common Migration Space of the CIS Member Nations: Current Challenges and Prospects Development” at Tavricheskiy Palace Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Aleksey Dolzhikov stressed that the formation of a safe and humane migration space remains one of the priorities of sustainable development in the CIS. He emphasized the importance of legislative cooperation and harmonization of national legal systems.

Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Europe and Central Asia Arthur Erken noted in his video address that globalization, technological progress and new forms of mobility are transforming migration patterns worldwide. According to him, the CIS common migration space concept could become an important mechanism for interstate coordination and legal harmonization.

Deputy Secretary General of the CIS Nurlan Seitimov highlighted that coordinated migration policy remains one of the key directions of integration within the Commonwealth, particularly amid growing challenges linked to irregular migration and regional instability.

The updated concept was also presented by Acting Head of the Department of Comparative Sociology at St. Petersburg State University Pavel Lisitsyn. He underlined the growing importance of labour and educational mobility, digital migration services and circular migration processes across the CIS region.