Migration Policy Group Newsletter - November-December 2024

Dear ,

Welcome to our last Newsletter of this year!

In this edition, we bring you the latest updates on MPG’s initiatives advancing equality, inclusion, and participation across Europe.

Explore the insights shared during our recent webinar, “Towards the Full Civic and Political Participation of New Europeans,” which unveiled the Participation Policy Index—a comprehensive tool assessing progress on migrant and mobile citizens' involvement in EU decision-making.

We also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the non-discrimination strand of the European network of legal experts on gender equality and non-discrimination coordinated by MPG, highlighting its pivotal role in combating discrimination and fostering collaboration between stakeholders to promote equality as well as had Network’s annual legal seminar.

Additionally, discover key findings from our survey and policy briefs addressing voting rights, integration priorities, and strategies to overcome barriers to migrant inclusion. From expert discussions to inspiring local practices, this newsletter captures the essence of MPG’s ongoing efforts to build a fairer, more inclusive Europe.

As 2024 comes to a close, on behalf of our team, I wish you a peaceful, safe, and joyful festive season. Let’s use this time of peace and reflection to clear our thoughts and rejuvenate our strengths, so we can enter the new year with renewed energy and determination to achieve our shared goal of building inclusive societies!

Watch our webinar launching the Political Participation Policy Index 2024

On 10 December 2024, the New Europeans Initiative organsied a webinar to launch the Political Participation Policy Index 2024 and to discuss civic and political participation of migrants and mobile citizens in the EU. Despite its importance for inclusive democracies, this remains the weakest link in integration policies.

The event unveiled MPG's new Participation Policy Index, which evaluates progress in all 27 EU member states across eight dimensions, including voting rights, citizenship access, and migrant representation. Experts shared insights on top-performing countries, barriers to electoral participation, and inspiring local practices, with implications for strengthening EU democracy.

MPG’s legal experts gather for the annual legal seminar

On 29 November 2024, the European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination held its annual legal seminar in Brussels, showcasing key reports on issues like gender equality in statutory social security, the legal implications of the Istanbul Convention after accession gendered content in advertising within the media, national measures to combat anti-muslim hatred, and evolving concepts like discrimination by association and by assumption.

The event fostered collaboration among experts, the European Commission and the national level and marked the 20th anniversary of the non-discrimination strand led by MPG, celebrating decades of providing independent expertise to the European Commission. Karen Vandekerckhove, Deputy Director Equality & Non-Discrimination of the European Commission’s DG for Justice and Consumers praised the Network’s impact, while Isabelle Chopin expressed gratitude for the experts driving this vital work. The seminar reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to an inclusive, discrimination-free society.

What the EU should do in the next 5 years: The views of new Europeans

On 21 November 2024, the Migration Policy Group’s New Europeans Initiative revealed the results of a survey capturing the priorities of migrant-led organisations across the EU. The findings spotlight critical areas often overlooked in policy discussions, offering a roadmap for a more inclusive Europe.

Key insights from the survey:

Integration: Employment (54.9%) and tackling structural racism (50.7%) ranked high.
Education & Employment: Recognition of foreign qualifications (71.8%) and language support (56.3%) are essential for inclusion.
Democracy: Addressing misinformation (55.7%) and removing voting barriers are key to fostering trust.
Migration: Legal pathways (58.1%) and stronger anti-trafficking measures (74.2%) topped the list.

Experts like Juliana Santos Wahlgren (https://www.eapn.eu/EAPN) and Ahmad Wali Ahmad Yar (Umbrella Refugee Committee) emphasised the urgency of inclusive policies, highlighting challenges such as discrimination, funding access, and skills recognition.

Watch our webinar - Voting Rights Policy Dialogue webinar

The high-level roundtable and networking event, Together for Equality, Stronger for All: Celebrating Standards for Equality Bodies, organised by Equinet, European Network of Equality Bodies, marked the historic adoption of the Standards Directives for Equality Bodies in May 2024. The event showcased Equinet and its members’ crucial role in advancing the negotiations on this legislation from 2022 to 2024. By bringing together key stakeholders – national ministries, European institutions, and civil society – the event raised awareness of the Standards’ significance and encourage their effective transposition at the national level.

MPG Publishes Policy Brief on Voting Rights for Non-EU and EU Citizens

The policy brief "Bridging Gaps in Political Participation" examines the disparities in voting rights across the EU, highlighting that while EU mobile citizens generally have local voting rights, third-country nationals (TCNs) face stricter policies. Only 14 EU countries permit TCNs to vote in municipal elections, often with long-term residency requirements. The brief suggests that expanding local voting rights for TCNs and regional/national voting rights for EU mobile citizens could enhance integration and democratic engagement. Recommendations include EU-wide standardisation of voting rights, promoting inclusive citizenship, and a stronger role for EU institutions in harmonising policies to foster non-citizen political participation.