Migration Policy Group Newsletter

MPG presents 'Good Practice Adaptation Toolkit' and 'Exemplary Practices Database' at SprINg conference

On the 31 of January Sinem Yilmaz (Integration Policy Analyst) and Alexander Wolffhardt (Deputy Director) presented two new contributions of MPG to the SprINg project.

The Good Practices Adaptation Toolkit supports practitioners in adapting good integration practices to their own context. The toolkit is based on the findings of "How can Good Practices be Transferred/Upscaled", another publication from MPG created for SprINg.

The Exemplary Practices Database features over 40 integration practices from across Europe that serve as inspiration to practitioners. The practices were evaluated and selected by using the Integration Practices Validation Grid.

Carmine Conte, MPG’s Legal Policy Analyst, interviewed by Voice of America and The World on lack of safe and legal pathways for people seeking asylum

"A lack of safe and legal pathways to Europe and restrictive policies by Greece and Italy are forcing people seeking asylum to take risky journeys, like the Balkan route, to reach Europe" says Carmine in his interview with Voice of America.

Asked by The World to comment on NGOs rescuing people crossing the Mediterranean being criminalised by the Italian and Greek governments, Carmine states "their only crime is saving lives''.

Both pieces conclude that restrictive policies by Greece and Italy, aimed at deterring people seeking asylum, do not work. And that by openly challenging international law they endanger lives and put pressure on the EU.

Responding to the latest EU Council decision calling on the Commission to “mobilise substantial EU funds and means to support Member States in reinforcing border protection” Carmine argues that this risks undermining the fundamental rights of people who seek to claim asylum in the EU. "Instead, EU migration policy should aim to promote safe and legal pathways to Europe and seek to strengthen solidarity among Member States in handling asylum requests."

Out now — the second issue of the 2022 European Equality Law Review

The European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination has published the second issue of the 2022 European equality law review, compiled by MPG’s Anti-Discrimination Legal Policy Analyst Catharina Germaine.

This issue provides an overview of the most important and relevant legal and policy developments in the fields of gender equality and non-discrimination at national level across Europe from 1 January to 30 June 2022, as well as summaries of the most important case law from the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights in these fields.

MIPEX cited in book Immigrant Integration in Europe: A Subjective Well-Being Perspective by Angela Paparusso

In her book, the Angela Paparusso, explores the complexity and multi-dimensional character of immigrant integration in Europe. The book provides a historical background of immigration in Europe and analyzes the traditional models of immigration and the immigration policies implemented in different countries using the Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020.

The book introduces the concept of subjective well-being applied to both immigrants and host countries in Europe, which is studied through surveys of self-reported life satisfaction among first-generation immigrants in seven European countries.

Whole-COMM comparative working paper on multi-level policymaking

How is migrant integration managed in small European localities? Which actors develop integration policies and broader initiatives for migrant integration in these localities? How much and how do local governments cooperate with other actors?

This new comparative paper published by the Whole-COMM project explores the factors that drive local integration policymaking in small localities, dynamics of conflict and cooperation between local governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders, the impact of the pandemic on governance processes and about the isolation of these localities from the European Union and national governments.