8th International Border Management Conference

18 -19 November 2025

The conference will take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It will be organised in person, so that participants can exchange and interact directly amongst each other, and attend the presentations, which will be delivered live at the venue. Only invited and registered participants will have access to the conference.

The main objective of the conference is to enhance the implementation of integrated border management practices within and across the borders of priority partner countries. The focus of the conference will particularly delve into the strengthening conference participants' IBM-related knowledge and cooperation networks. The conference will offer a platform to share, present, and discuss up-to-date practices in border management, focusing on the concrete implementation of knowledge and networks across international borders. Participants will gain insights into current trends, exchange experiences, and strengthen expertise.

Presentations and discussions will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic and French.

Lunch is provided both days, and the official welcome dinner will take place on the 18th of November. All attendees are welcome.

Full details of location, schedule and logistics will be shared with registered guests only. For further details, please contact the IBMC Team at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to meeting you in Amsterdam!

Agenda

Day 1 / 18 November 2025 (Tuesday)

11:00 – 12:00

On-site registration

Session I: Opening session

Chair Mr. Borut Eržen, ICMPD Directorate of Policy, Research and Strategy

12:00 – 12:45

Conference room

Welcoming address

12:45 - 13:15

Conference room

Keynote Speeches
13:15 -13:30

Conference room
Introduction of the Conference agenda
Chair Mr. Borut Eržen

Photo, all participants
13:30 – 14:30

Lunch

14:30 - 15:30

Conference room

High-level Panel

Moderation: Ms. Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director, Clingendael Institute

In a time of renewed geopolitical uncertainty and transnational challenges, the role of state borders is evolving beyond traditional control functions, becoming central to resilience, crisis response, and international partnerships.

This high-level panel brings together senior political leaders, EU representatives and international actors to reflect on the evolving role of borders in crisis response, resilience building, and external action. It will set the tone for the conference by addressing how national and regional approaches to border management can adapt to today’s geopolitical realities while preserving fundamental rights and upholding international cooperation.

Session II: Panel discussions

15:30 - 16:30

Conference room

Panel 2: Emerging Challenges, Responses and Opportunities

Moderation Tony Mihaitoaia, Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Building on the broader geopolitical reflections of the previous panel, this session aims to explore how border management systems are evolving in response to increasingly complex and rapidly shifting threats. From instrumentalisation of migration, to hybrid tactics and disinformation to digital fraud and the adaptive strategies of criminal networks, these developments require innovation, resilience and stronger cross-border cooperation.

This panel explores how countries and international actors are adapting to these new realities. It will examine how innovation and digitalisation are reshaping operational practices, and how cooperation, interoperability and strategic resilience can counter instability, while avoiding over-militarisation or erosion of fundamental rights.

16:30 - 16:45

Coffee Break

Parallel sessions

16:45 - 17:45

Plenary

Case studies: Bridging innovation and Border management – Ethical application of technologies to serve operational goals

Moderation: Tamer Kilic, ICMPD Regional Coordinator (tbc)

16:45 - 17:45

Meeting room 2

Practical demonstration: Virtual reality in the training of border management agencies

Moderation:

16:45 - 17:45

Meeting room 3

Case studies: Women empowerment in border management

Moderation: Monika Weber, Senior Expert, ICMPD

17:45 - 18:00

Closing of the 1st day – plenary

18:30 – 20:00

Gala dinner

Day 2 / 19 November 2025 (Wednesday)

08:30 – 09:00

Courtesy refreshment
09:00 - 09:15
Recap of Day 1 and setting the scene for Day 2
Chair Mr. Borut Eržen
Session III: Panel discussions

09:15 – 10:15 Incl. Q&A

Conference room

Panel 3: Embedding Human Rights in Border management practice

Moderation: Ms. Malin Frankenhaeuser, Head of Policy, ICMPD (tbc)

The integration of human rights into day-to-day border management operations, highlighting real-world examples of safeguards, proportionality, and legal standards being applied by practitioners.

10:15– 11:15

Conference room

Panel 4: Strengthening the EU border architecture - border procedure under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Moderation: Alfred Woeger, MS Programme, ICMPD

This panel will explore how the EU is reshaping its border management architecture through the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, with a focus on operationalisation of pre-entry and screening procedures, safeguards for vulnerable persons and the role of national Independent Monitoring Mechanism.

11:15 – 11:30

Coffee break

11:30 – 12:15

Conference room

Panel 5: Operationalising external border control and cooperation with countries along key migration routes

Moderation: Ms. Sedef Dearing, Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, ICMPD (tbc)

This panel will explore how the EU and its Member States are engaging with countries of origin and transit to strengthen external border control, reduce irregular movements, and support integrated responses along key migration routes. This will include external border control and cooperation with countries of origin and transit to reduce irregular movements.

Parallel Sessions

12:15 – 13:15 Incl. Q&A

Plenary

Knowledge-sharing and capacity development, including modern approaches to the training in border management

Moderation: Monika Weber, Senior Expert, ICMPD

12:15 – 13:15 Incl. Q&A

Meeting room 2

Workshop by the Identity Fraud and Documents Expertise Centre

12:15 – 13:15 Incl. Q&A

Meeting room 3

Practical exercise: Showcase of Technologies KMar (TBC)

13:15 – 13:30

Conclusions speech

Final word and closing of the Conference and Evaluation of the event (online)

13:30 – 14:30

Lunch, Courtesy refreshment and optional networking

Speakers