EU Opens Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent: A New Chapter in Migration Governance in Central Asia

In the heart of Tashkent, the entrance to an unassuming building bears the logos of the EU, Uzbekistan, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. The information and services provided here could transform the lives of thousands of Central Asian migrants.

On August 26, 2025, the EU opened its first Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The center is part of the EU-funded PROTECT project and is implemented in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the Uzbek Migration Service.

At the opening ceremony, EU Ambassador Toivo Kral stated that these centers "play a key role in providing people with the necessary information to help them make informed migration decisions."

01 The Establishment and Mission of the Migrant Resource Center

The EU Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent marks the deepening of EU-Central Asian cooperation on migration management. The center is not only a key component of the EU's PROTECT project, the "Silk Road and Central Asian Countries Migration Management and Protection Enhancement Project," but also the third such institution established by the EU in Central Asia.

The center provides three main services: information on legal employment abroad, raising awareness of the risks of irregular migration, and supporting the reintegration of returning migrants.

These services address the growing needs of migrants in Central Asia. ICMPD Deputy Director-General Sedef Dilin noted that the new facility is "both practical and timely for those considering migration and returning home."

02 The Evolution of the EU's Migration Governance Strategy

The EU's focus on migration is not new. In 2015, the EU was struck by the refugee crisis, with over one million refugees, primarily from Syria and Iraq, entering Europe via the Mediterranean.

The crisis led to the collapse of the EU's asylum system, with refugee reception centers in Italy and Greece overflowing and some Nordic countries erecting barriers to prevent illegal immigration.

Since then, the EU has begun planning to revise its immigration and asylum regulations. On May 15, 2024, the European Council formally approved a plan to reform European immigration and asylum law, aiming to create efficient and harmonized procedures, more orderly manage immigration, and ensure fair sharing of responsibilities among member states.

In March 2025, the European Commission also proposed allowing member states to establish centers in non-EU countries where migrants whose asylum applications were rejected would await deportation. This proposal seeks to address the difficulties EU member states face in ensuring that rejected asylum seekers leave their territories.

03 Migration Patterns and Challenges in Central Asia

Central Asia has long been a significant source of migrants, with large numbers of workers seeking employment in Russia, Kazakhstan, and EU countries. According to reports, citizens of countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan make up a significant proportion of the population in Russia.

Migration is crucial to the economic development of Central Asian countries, and remittances have become a vital source of income for many families. However, the migration process also carries numerous risks, including irregular migration, human trafficking, and exploitation.

The Tashkent Migrant Resource Center was established to address these challenges. The center will provide reliable, accessible, and up-to-date support to potential migrants, returning citizens, and their families.

Specific services include: awareness sessions on legal migration channels and overseas employment opportunities; information dissemination on the risks of irregular migration, human trafficking, and exploitation; and pre-departure counseling for departing migrants and reintegration counseling for returnees.

04 Deepening the EU Central Asia Strategy

The establishment of the EU Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent is part of its overall Central Asia strategy. In 2007, the EU launched its first Central Asia Strategy, aiming to establish a new partnership with Central Asia.

In 2019, the EU updated its Central Asia Strategy, proposing to develop a stronger partnership with Central Asian countries. Following the Ukrainian crisis in 2022, the EU has become more active in the region, with its policy adjustments characterized by autonomy, duality, and a short-term nature.

The EU is the region's major trading partner and largest external investor. Compared to 2021, the EU's total trade with Central Asia increased from $27 billion to $47 billion in 2022. With the exception of Turkmenistan, trade with the other four Central Asian countries saw significant growth of over 25% in 2022.

The EU also provides assistance to Central Asia through the Development and Cooperation Instrument (DCI). Between 2007 and 2013, the EU's aid budget for Central Asia totaled €719 million.

05 New Trends in Digital Surveillance and Migration Management

At the same time as the EU opened a Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent, Russia announced new migration management measures. Starting September 1, 2025, Russia will begin testing a new digital surveillance system in Moscow and Moscow Oblast.

Citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Ukraine must install a mobile application called "Amina."

The app will be used for handling matters such as residence registration, address updates, work permit fees, and appointments. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs will also access users' geolocation data.

Migrants who fail to confirm their location within three working days may be removed from the registration system and placed on a monitoring list. This measure signals a shift in Russia toward stricter migration monitoring.

06 Multilateral Cooperation in Global Migration Governance

The Tashkent Migrant Resource Center represents a successful example of multilateral cooperation in migration governance. Funded by the European Union, implemented by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and in partnership with the government of Uzbekistan, the center embodies the multi-layered collaborative nature of global migration governance.

The International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), a leading organization in the field of international migration, has established 14 Migrant Resource Centers worldwide.

Similar centers are already operating in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. According to data, the Kyrgyz Migrant Resource Center has reached over 6,000 people through face-to-face consultations and outreach since its establishment, and nearly one million people through social media outreach.

Since its establishment, the Migrant Resource Center in Tajikistan has reached over 10,000 people through face-to-face consultations and outreach, and over 710,000 people through social media outreach.

These figures demonstrate the important role and widespread influence of the Migrant Resource Center in providing information and services.

07 Future Outlook and Challenges

The Tashkent Migrant Resource Center faces numerous challenges in its future development. First, ensuring the sustainability and reach of its services. The Center plans to expand its outreach to all regions of Uzbekistan, collaborating with local institutions and engaging with various community leaders and influencers to raise awareness of migration issues more broadly and effectively.

Second, how to balance migration control with the protection of migrant rights. The EU has consistently attempted to strike a balance between controlling illegal immigration and protecting the rights of migrants, but this has often been difficult in practice.

Human rights organizations have harshly criticized some of the EU's migration proposals, arguing that they could lead to human rights violations and prolonged detention of migrants on vague and punitive grounds.

Finally, how to address the impact of geopolitical shifts on migration patterns. The shifting geopolitical landscape in Central Asia, with tensions between Russia and the West and China's growing influence in the region, is likely to impact migration patterns and choices in Central Asian countries.

The EU's Migrant Resource Centre in Tashkent is just a small microcosm of global migration governance, but it reflects the international community's growing commitment to cooperation on migration issues.

With the launch of the centre's services, tens of thousands of Central Asian migrants will have access to safer migration pathways and more comprehensive protection of their rights.

EU Ambassador Toivo Klar emphasized that facilities like the centre "play a crucial role in providing people with the necessary information to help them make informed migration decisions."