From NATO withdrawal to presidential elections, Afghanistan is at a point of transition. Any return migration to Afghanistan – whether voluntary, assisted or forced – requires an acknowledgement of the precarious security, political and economic situation in Afghanistan.

The ‘why’ in the seminar title can be read in at least two ways. First, why would Afghans in Europe want to return to Afghanistan? Second, why would European governments want to encourage return to Afghanistan?

This seminar draws upon qualitative research from the Afghan case study of the PRIO-led project Possibilities and Realities of Return Migration (PREMIG), funded by the research Council of Norway.

Dr Ceri Oeppen, Lecturer in Geography at the University of Sussex explores whether Afghans want to return to Afghanistan, and the experiences of those who have returned.

Program:
08.15 Doors open and breakfast is served
08.30 Welcome by Jørgen Carling, PRIO
08.35 Presentation by Ceri Oeppen, University of Sussex
09.05 Comments by Ulrik Berg, Norwegian Directorate of Immigration
09.15 Questions, comments and discussion
09.45 End of seminar