Welcome to the July 2026 edition of the MPG newsletter! This past month has been a chance to demonstrate what embedding participation across all of our work means in practice.
The annual conference of the International Migration Research Network (IMISCOE) put participatory research methods at the spotlight. For MPG, this was a platform to show that participatory approaches can be more than a research method: they can be a working practice. Across five sessions, we shared insights on how to achieve this - see our IMISCOE reflections.
And because we are committed to ensuring participation from the get-go, we also launched our New Europeans Survey 2026 to hear from migrant- and refugee-led organisations on their priorities for the future of EU policy. The results will help direct our coming work and influence the larger EU discussions. The survey builds on our previous 2024 inquiry which was presented to EU policymakers and forged new connections between them and migrant leaders. Fill out the survey and share it with other migrant leaders so they can have a say, too!
We also presented online our Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) results for Ukraine to stakeholders gathered in Kiev. The event was hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and we are pleased to learn that our MIPEX research insights will feed into their forthcoming Migration Strategy and Action Plan of Ukraine.
Last but not least, the annual non-discrimination country reports coordinated by MPG are being released now, published by the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination. The reports are the result of our decades-long leadership in mapping the enforcement of the EU's anti-discrimination legislation and the collection of equality data. Because we believe that in addition to participation, good practice requires continuous checks and evidence-based analysis. So stay tuned as more reports continue to come out in the coming weeks!
We're calling on 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. The deadline is 15 September and the survey takes 10-15 minutes - fill it out and share it so we can reach more migrant leaders!
Participatory methods took the centre stage at this year’s IMISCOE conference, and MPG had a lot to say on the topic.Our work is informed by the conviction that research excellence needs to be measured not based on academic indicators alone, but on whether the produced knowledge has inspired meaningful dialogue, strengthened partnerships and produced concrete solutions that inform better policy and practice.MPG's Head of Research Başak Yavçan took part in five sessions and shared why it is imperative to marry rigorous research with participatory practice.
What are the latest trends and developments in the area of non-discrimination across the EU? The European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination has started publishing its 2026 non-discrimination country reports. 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. So far, the publications and infographics for Austria, Estonia, Ireland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania are out. Check them out and follow us on social to see when new country reports are out!
The MigraFounders pilot has helped simplify the requirements for migrant entrepreneurs to access financial services. This is the result of MigraFounders’ successful partnership with the local public savings bank Stadtsparkasse München. Developed within the framework of our INNOVATE project, MigraFounders is a testament of how the impact of good research can be seen in its practical outcomes. "MigraFounders is ready to grow, and the interest is already there in Munich and beyond," said Evelyn Sarpong-Schulz, MBA, Founder of House of Oyoko and the Programme Lead for MigraFounders. Learn what's next.
With resettlement quotas increasingly restricted, the legal pathways available to people in need of protection are also dwindling. Our Head of Research Dr Başak Yavçan spoke with journalist Violet Ikong about the causes and implications of limited resettlement in this piece published in FairPlanet. Read the full article to hear from refugees affected by these policies too, and see other examples of MPG's work quoted in the media.
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 July 2026.
