Circular Migration Forum
Unlocking potential of circular migration in the SEE region
Belgrade, Serbia | 14 May 2026 Ložionica – Center for Creative Industries
A regional gathering of civil society organisations, experts, policymakers, scientists and institutions working on circular migration and diaspora engagement across South-East Europe.
About the Forum
South-East Europe continues to face complex migratory challenges, including brain drain, demographic shifts, and uneven regional development. At the same time, the region holds significant untapped potential for knowledge circulation, skills mobility, and diaspora-driven innovation.
The first Circular Migration Forum for the South-East Europe (SEE) region will take place on 14 May 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia. Organised by Returning Point, the Forum aims to gather stakeholders interested in the potential of circular migration as a factor of promoting local development and cooperation with highly qualified and highly educated diaspora.
Program
Find the full agenda here.
Panelists and Discussants
What to expect
The Forum is designed as a one-day, in-person event combining:
- High-level keynote presentations
- Thematic panel discussions
- Facilitated discussions
- Structured networking opportunities
- Regional exchange of practices and policy approaches
The format encourages direct participation and practical dialogue, allowing attendees to contribute their expertise and perspectives.
Participants will gain practical insights, exchange expertise with peers from across the region, and contribute to shaping the emerging agenda on circular migration in SEE.
Who should apply?
The Forum is intended for stakeholders actively engaged in the field of migration and diaspora cooperation, including:
- Civil society organisations
- Researchers and academics
- Policymakers
- International organisations
- Diaspora engagement practitioners
- Regional cooperation initiatives
If your work revolves around brain circulation, circular migration, diaspora engagement, or local development in SEE, this Forum is designed for you.
Participation is by application and confirmation only. The number of seats is limited.
Regional scope
The Forum will bring together participants from:
Serbia · Montenegro · Bosnia and Herzegovina · North Macedonia · Slovenia · Croatia · Bulgaria · Romania · Albania · Greece · Moldova
The goal is to strengthen collaboration across the SEE region and foster long-term cross-border partnerships.
Roadmap to
the Forum
The Circular Migration Forum is the result of a structured regional preparation process:
This process ensures that the Forum reflects regional needs and builds on existing initiatives and expertise.
Venue
The Forum will take place at Ložionica – Center for Creative Industries, a newly opened international-standard creative and innovation center located in a century-old industrial building in Belgrade.
Designed as a crossroads of ideas, human capital and knowledge-driven innovation, Ložionica provides a fitting setting for a regional dialogue on mobility, cooperation and development.
Organisers & Partners
The Circular Migration Forum is organised by Returning Point,
with institutional support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia and co-financed by the Government of Sweden.
Contact
If you are actively working in the field of circular migration, diaspora engagement, or regional cooperation in South-East Europe, we invite you to join us at the Forum.
For general enquiries about the Forum:
events@tackapovratka.rs
For partnership opportunities:
uros.zivkovic@tackapovratka.rs