Migration Policy Group Newsletter

Dear ,

Welcome to the March 2025 Edition of the MPG Newsletter!

In our 30th anniversary year, we are reflecting on the people and partnerships that have shaped our journey and continue to drive our mission forward. Throughout 2025, we are featuring the voices of long-time collaborators whose work in law, research, and local governance has helped advance equality and inclusion across Europe. Their ongoing contributions remain at the heart of what we do, and as we look ahead, these connections continue to grow, evolve, and strengthen our collective impact.

That spirit of collaboration is also at the heart of our current work. Together with over 100 civil society organisations, we’ve called on the EU to move beyond emergency responses and commit to long-term, coordinated solutions for people displaced from Ukraine, as the Temporary Protection Directive enters its third year.

On 18 March, in partnership with colleagues from the Horizon Europe-funded INNOVATE project, we launched the Migration to Policy Co-Lab Toolkit - a practical new resource to help researchers and policymakers work more closely together on migration policy.

We also responded to the European Commission’s proposed revision of the Return Directive, outlining five key principles for a fairer, more transparent approach to return. The accompanying draft Returns Regulation cites several of our EU-funded projects - FAiR, GAPS, MIrreM, and MORE - as having “informed” its development. While we support research-based policymaking, the proposal fails to explain how our findings were used and, in some cases, misrepresents them. Together with other researchers and organisations, we issued a public statement calling for transparency and for independent research to be used accurately in EU policymaking.

Last, but not least, we participated in two key events that reflect our ongoing commitment to rights-based migration and integration policies. At the final conference of the ENABLE Project, we contributed to the conversation on trauma-informed education and better support for migrant and displaced children in schools across Europe. We also took part in the “Migration and Security: Safe Borders – Safe EU?” conference, where MPG shared insights from our FAiR project, highlighting the need for fair, humane, and sustainable return policies that uphold fundamental rights.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this shared journey toward more inclusive policies and societies.

MPG’s 30th anniversary

March brings new voices to our anniversary series - people whose work has been deeply connected to MPG’s mission to advance equality, inclusion, and better migration governance across Europe. Whether through legal advocacy, research, or local action, their efforts reflect the collaborative spirit behind much of MPG’s work over the past three decades. We’re proud to feature:

Patrick Yu, Former Chair of the Starting Line Group
Maarten Vink, Chair in Citizenship Studies at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (European University Institute)
Dr. Ferdinand Mirbach, Senior Expert on Integration and Inclusion in Diverse Societies, Diversity Officer, (Robert Bosch Foundation)
Adam Tyson, former European Commission Official

Migration to Policy Co-Lab Toolkit

On 18 March 2025, over 150 researchers, policymakers, civil society actors, and experts gathered for the Migration to Policy Co-Lab, part of the Horizon Europe-funded INNOVATE project. This very successful event tackled a crucial challenge: how to strengthen the link between migration research and policymaking. A key highlight was the launch of the Migration to Policy Co-Lab Toolkit, developed by MPG and partners - a practical resource to help researchers and policymakers collaborate more effectively.

MPG Statement on the European Commission’s Proposal to Revise the Return Directive

The European Commission has now unveiled its proposal to revise the Return Directive. Ahead of the release, MPG reiterated five key principles that should underpin any fair and effective return policy - principles grounded in our ongoing work through the Migrant Return Policy Index (MIREX).

These include:

Comprehensive support before and after return
Detention only as a last resort
Strong human rights safeguards and independent monitoring
Realistic alternatives, including regularisation pathways
Active involvement of civil society to ensure transparency and accountability

MPG brings evidence to Brussels Policy debates

In March, MPG contributed to two key events in Brussels, spotlighting the need for fair and rights-based return policies, and for trauma-informed support in schools. Carmine Conte, our Senior Legal Policy Analyst, shared insights from the FAiR project, urging humane, sustainable return systems. Mojib Atal, our Integration Policy Analyst presented findings from SIRIUS Watch, calling for stronger mental health support for migrant pupils.

March media highlights

‘The Challenges of Afghan Migration in Europe – Straight Talk’ | Voice of America (Pashto) | 7 March 2025

In an interview with Voice of America Pashto, Dr. Atal, MPG’s Integration Policy Analyst, highlighted the need for EU countries to uphold refugee rights under the 1951 Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol, particularly in light of Germany’s increased focus on deporting rejected Afghan asylum seekers. He warned that such actions must not endanger lives given Afghanistan’s precarious situation and noted past flaws in deportation processes. Dr. Atal also discussed the historical evolution of migration and integration policies in Europe, citing the Netherlands’ shift from multiculturalism to restrictive civic integration, and stressed the influence of negative public attitudes and the need for balanced media portrayals of migrants.

‘It felt impossible to bring my partner to the UK’ | BBC | 7 March 2025

Many UK citizens with foreign partners say high income thresholds and visa costs – totalling over £11,000 – make it feel nearly impossible to live together in the UK. Despite some exceptions, strict rules and inflexible processes have left couples feeling financially and emotionally strained. The UK was ranked second from bottom out of 56 countries for ease of family reunion in the MPG’s 2020 Migrant Integration Policy Index, highlighting the broader policy challenges families face.

EU deportation plans raise legal and practical concerns | The Parliament | 19 March 2025

The European Commission’s proposal for third-country “return hubs” to expedite deportations raises significant legal and practical concerns, echoing previous failed attempts like Italy’s Albania deal and the UK’s Rwanda plan. Rights groups criticize the plan as punitive and unworkable, with civil society largely excluded from consultations. The proposal strengthens deportation powers, including EU-wide entry bans of up to ten years, while failing to define key security risks.

According to Carmine Conte, a Senior Legal Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Group, “The new policy agenda of the Commission is really focused on externalisation and security issues, so there is not much about integration.” This approach reflects a broader shift towards restrictive migration policies across Europe, driven more by political narratives than an actual migration crisis.

EU needs unified return policy to deal with immigration, MEP Lukas Mandl insists | 27 March 2025

Başak Yavçan, MPG’s Head of Research, participated in the latest episode of the EU Perspectives podcast in which she discussed migration with Tomáš Zdechovský, MPE (EPP/CZE); Katarína Cséfalvayová, Director of the Institute for Central Europe; Camille Le Coz, Director of Migration Policy Institute Europe. EU Perspectives is a news portal dedicated to reporting on European Union policymaking, offering insights from policymakers and amplifying the voices of those affected by EU policies.