Welcome to the August 2026 edition of the MPG newsletter!
At the turn of the month, the Ceuta events unfolded, serving as an urgent reminder of the problems and tensions in European migration policy. The timing of the crisis was significant: the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum just came into force this June, and MPG had already been warning that the EU's over-reliance on externalisation creates clear vulnerabilities. Thankfully, there are concrete, research-based measures that can be taken. See the Ceuta reflection paper we published for our vision of a more holistic approach to migration management, and check the interview MPG Head of Research Dr Başak Yavçan gave for Bloomberg Television.
At the same time, this summer month also saw us working on the launch of one of our most exciting initiatives. We are pleased to open the call for applications for the fourth annual edition of our Democracy Academy, which will take place later this autumn. The academy provides trainings that boost the civic and political participation of emerging leaders with migration background. This is especially important now that civil society across the EU is operating under unprecedented pressure, and migrant communities are on the front line. In addition to the training, the academy brings the participants into a trusted cohourt of like-minded individuals, building contacts that can benefit them in the long-term. Apply now and help us spreadthe word about the academy!
In addition, 10 new annual non-discrimination country reports coordinated by MPG came out in August. The reports, published by the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination, are part of our decades-long commitment to mapping the enforcement of the EU's anti-discrimination legislation and the collection of equality data. Stay tuned as more reports continue to be released in September, too!
Finally, do not miss the chance to take part in the New Europeans Survey 2026 we launched last month. The deadline is coming up in mid-September, and we would love to hear from migrant- and refugee-led organisations on your priorities for the future of EU policy. This will help shape our coming work and influence the larger EU discussions - share the survey with your networks!
The Ceuta events came as a test for EU policy makers shortly after the launch of the new EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, and exposed the vulnerability that comes from managing migration chiefly through the externalisation of border control. Read our reflection paper to learn how externalisation makes migration management weaker, and why a holistic approach supporting also legal mobility and integration measures is the answer.
Applications are now open for the next Democracy Academy which will take place in October and November 2026. The academy looks to select 25 emerging migrant leaders in a space for training, knowledge-sharing and networking. The sessions are built on the expertise and feedback of other migrant leaders and previous graduates. In addition, with the first-ever masterclasses reserved for graduates about to launch this autumn too, joining the academy is an opportunity to form long-lasting, impactful connections. See more about how to apply and share the call with your contacts so more can benefit from this opportunity!
What are the latest trends and developments in the area of non-discrimination across the EU?Last month, we started publishing the first 2026 country reports of the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination. The publications, coordinated by MPG, assess the level of transposition and implementation of the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive in the 27 EU Member States during the period of 1 January 2025 – 1 January 2026. The reports also look at case law and policies in the field. This month, another 10 reports became available, covering the developments in Belgium, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia and Sweden. Check them out and follow us on social to see when new country reports are out!
Last month, we launched a call for migrant- and refugee-led organisations across Europe to share their priorities for the future of EU policy as part of our New European Survey 2026. The findings will help direct our work on how the EU can better support migrant and refugee communities, strengthen democratic participation and develop more inclusive policies over the coming years. The survey builds on our previous inquiry form 2024, the results of which were presented to the EU policymakers and other stakeholders. Don't miss the deadline - have your say until 15 September and share it so we can hear from more people!
This month, our Head of Research Dr Başak Yavçan spoke about the Ceuta events to Bloomberg News in a live interview. Başak also joined the evening LBC News live on the radio to explain why recent Reform UK proposals to limit benefits for migrants will hurt migrant taxpayers and affect British workers, instead of create savings. Finally, our research on local voting rights for migrants has been quoted in a Norwegian newspaper - read the full articles.
Our Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) is a unique tool measuring integration policies in 56 countries across 8 policy areas. It provides up-to-date, comprehensive research data and analysis on which to base policies, proposals for change and projects. In addition to data on national integration policies, MPG also gather data on policies at the regional level through Regin (MIPEX-R), and at the local level via Whole-COMM (MIPEX-L). See examples of how MIPEX was used in August 2026.
