ICMPD Policy & Research

🌍 Borders are getting smarter – but at what cost? AI, biometrics, and digital technologies are transforming border management, strengthening security and efficiency across the EU. But their adoption also raises critical challenges related to ethics, accountability, and fundamental rights. Without clear legal frameworks and operational safeguards, risks such as bias, lack of transparency, and data security vulnerabilities remain high. How do we make sure innovation doesn’t come at the expense of fundamental rights? Our latest #WorkingPaper dives into the opportunities and risks of tech-driven border management, the real challenges on the ground, and what’s needed to get it right – from better training to stronger legal safeguards. Findings draw on expert discussions from across ICMPD, including insights from major international conferences and migration dialogues across the Mediterranean region. 🚀 The way forward? Modernisation isn’t just about adopting new technologies – it’s about ensuring they work in practice. Without ethical frameworks, smart policies, and international cooperation, even the best tools risk creating fragmented, ineffective systems rather than truly modern border management. 📖 Read the full paper to discover key trends, challenges, and policy recommendations: https://lnkd.in/d9-UXsth International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) ICMPD Mediterranean Christina Khoury Maegan Hendow   #BorderManagement #ArticifialIntelligence #MigrationPolicy

If you’re in #Berlin next week and working on migration policy, join us at Café Kyiv! 📅 11 March 2025  ⏰ 14:00–15:00 CET With temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians extended until March 2026, discussions on long-term solutions and transition strategies are gaining urgency. As uncertainty persists, what scenarios could lie ahead for Ukrainians in the EU, and how can states move towards a coordinated and sustainable European approach? ICMPD’s Senior Policy Advisor Martin Wagner will moderate the panel "Beyond Temporary Protection: Future Scenarios for Displaced Ukrainians in the EU", featuring: 🔹 Oleksandra Bienert, researcher, human rights activist, and chair of the board of the Alliance of Ukrainian Organisations (AUO) 🔹 Dr. Jan Schneider, Head of Research Unit and Deputy Managing Director, The Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) 🔹 Kamil Kisiel, Deputy Director, International Affairs and Migration Department, Ministry of the Interior and Administration (Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji), Poland 🔹 Hans-Ulrich Benra, Head of Task Force Ukraine, Federal Ministry for Interior and Community (Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat), Germany More details: https://lnkd.in/eXttVeMg International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) #CaféKyiv #Ukraine #MigrationPolicy #TemporaryProtection

📢 What’s next for temporary protection in the EU?   Three years on, the Temporary Protection Directive has provided millions of Ukrainians with safety and legal residence in the EU – though only of a temporary nature. With the war ongoing and uncertainty rising, what comes next?   While protection is extended until March 2026, an EU-wide exit strategy is still missing. Meanwhile, several European states are developing national transition policies—offering beneficiaries of temporary protection the chance to move to national residence permits or gradually limiting the eligibility criteria for temporary protection—to ease administrative burdens and provide stability.   A common EU approach is key to avoiding fragmentation and ensuring legal certainty. Can national experiences shape a shared strategy?   📖 Read our latest ICMPD commentary by Martin Wagner and Marina Grama: https://lnkd.in/dbUF_hWm   International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) #PolicyInsights #TemporaryProtection #MigrationPolicy #Ukraine #EU

#PolicyInsights 📝 Today marks three years since the EU activated Temporary Protection (TP) for Ukrainians, now extended for a fourth year. While TP enabled the EU to successfully host more than four million people fleeing Russian aggression, it remains a temporary and unsustainable solution, which also prolongs uncertainty. Extending TP until March 2026 has bought the EU and its Member States more time to monitor the development of the war in Ukraine and identify possible exit strategies from this temporary status. Recent diplomatic tensions in this regard make predictions on the war now even more difficult than before, pointing to the urgent need to identify possible exit strategies from this temporary status. 📝 In the latest #PolicyInsights piece, Martin Wagner and Marina Grama delve into temporary protection and highlight promising national practices to develop an EU-wide approach to phase out this temporary status. 🔗 Read "Phasing out temporary protection: Shaping EU policies through national experiences" at: https://lnkd.in/dbUF_hWm ICMPD Policy & Research #Migration #TemporaryProtection #MigrationPolicy #Ukraine #EU #EUPolicy

Reminder! Our joint MIrreM - Measuring Irregular Migration webinar is happening this Thursday! Don’t miss the chance to explore how irregular migration data shapes policymaking and public discourse in the EU. 📆 6 March ⏰ 13:00 - 14:15 CET Register here: https://lnkd.in/dhcYWNGW

📢 Turning Research into Actionable Policy Recommendations Even the most rigorous research can fall flat if it doesn’t align with policymakers’ priorities. So how do you craft recommendations that are practical, persuasive, and actionable? 🔹 Understand the policy landscape and key stakeholders 🔹 Tailor recommendations to existing policy frameworks 🔹 Keep them concise, realistic, and solutions-driven 🔹 Foster dialogue and collaboration for better uptake In our latest Short, Veronika Bilger from International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) shares practical strategies to help researchers make an impact. 📖 Read the full piece here: https://loom.ly/7ar_gyc 📥 Want to receive Shorts directly in your mailbox? Make sure you're signed up for our mailing list https://loom.ly/tDtI9QE ❓ Let's discuss: What’s your biggest challenge in translating research into policy recommendations? 👇

#ICMPDEvents 📅 Join the upcoming webinar on irregular migration data and policymaking on 6 March 2025 at 01:00 pm (CET), hosted by the MIrreM - Measuring Irregular Migration Project. This webinar will explore the role of irregular migration data in shaping policymaking and public discourse at both the EU and national levels. Featuring three expert presentations: 🔹 How fit is the data on irregular migration? – Maegan Hendow, Senior Researcher, ICMPD  🔹 Obstacles to using irregular migration data in policymaking and how to overcome them – Jasmijn Slootjes, Associate Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe 🔹 Presence of irregular migration flow data in public debates and policy decision-making: Insights from a multiple case study analysis – Norbert Cyrus, Senior Researcher, Universität Osnabrück 🔗 Find more information at: https://lnkd.in/gNBNmDZp 🔗 Register at: https://lnkd.in/dhcYWNGW #IrregularMigration #MigrationWebinar #Webinar #MigrationResearch #MigrationData #MigrationPolicy #MigrationDebates

The Migration Podcast 🎙️ The working age population in the European Union (EU) is expected to decrease by 1.9 million every year in the next decade. There will be a structural demand for labour migration. 💬 Martin Hofmann, ICMPD's principal advisor and the main author of Migration Outlook, highlighted the increasing significance of labour migration in Europe, noting that no reversal of this trend is anticipated for 2025.    📌 In 2024, the number of work permits for non-EU-citizens grew by 8.9%, the authorisations for seasonal work by 22.6% and the number of EU Blue Cards by 8.8%. 🎙️ In the latest podcast episode, Hofmann Martin, covers the 10 migration issues to look out for in 2025 outlined in the report, including the future developments in labour migration. 🎧 Tune in: https://lnkd.in/dA5d6Jyx 🔗 Read and download the ICMPD Migration Outlook 2025 at: https://lnkd.in/dCVKrvzE 🔗 Explore this interactive tool mapping legal pathways to EU Member States: https://lnkd.in/d6nYK-CJ - The research was funded by the EU and commissioned through the ICMPD-led Migration Partnership Facility (#MPF). ICMPD Policy & Research #LabourMigration #Migration #WorkingAge #EUPopulation #ResidencePermit #WorkPermit #MigrationPolicy #MigrationInsights

How are refugees integrating into 🇦🇹 Austria's labour market, and what factors help or hinder their progress? A new ICMPD study from the FIMAS reCOV research project traces the integration journeys of refugees in Austria who arrived between 2014 and 2018. Based on almost 10,000 interviews over the course of six years, it examines key aspects like employment, education, social integration, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on labour market participation. Here are some key findings: ✅ Employment progress, but stagnation – The refugee employment rate more than doubled from 23% (2018) to 56% (2022) but plateaued since. ✅ Women face persistent barriers – Female refugees still experience higher part-time work rates (50%) and slower labour market integration compared to men. ✅ Income up, but inflation limits gains – Full-time refugee incomes rose 39% (2019–2024), outpacing inflation in this period. This signals positive progress in labour market integration. ✅ Overqualification remains a challenge – 30% of employed refugees feel overqualified for their jobs in 2024, highlighting barriers to skills recognition. ✅ Education & language skills improving – by 2024 44% have obtained an Austrian degree or educational certificate, and 67% rate their German proficiency as good or very good. ✅ Social networks matter – Refugees with stronger social ties have better integration outcomes, yet one-fifth still lack close connections outside their families. ✅ Integration paradox – As refugees integrate, awareness of discrimination grows. Reports of no discrimination dropped from 32% (2018) to 18% (2024), highlighting the complex challenges of full societal participation. ✅ COVID-19’s mixed impact – While many refugees lost jobs during lockdowns, many used the crisis to transition into better jobs. ✅ One-size-fits-all won't work – Differences in education, gender roles, and employment mean newer refugee cohorts need tailored integration strategies for better outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is key to shaping effective policies that support long-term refugee integration. The full report is available in German at this link: https://lnkd.in/ds8NS_q3 International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) #Integration #Refugees #Austria #MigrationPolicy #LabourMarket #SocialInclusion

🔔 Does irregular migration data shape policy-making in the EU? And public discourse? How? Join us in this free webinar to find out more! WHEN: 📆 6 March ⏰ 1-2:15 pm CET TOPICS and SPEAKERS: 📖 How Fit Is the Data on Irregular Migration? 🎙️ Maegan Hendow, Senior Researcher, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) 📖 Obstacles to Using Irregular Migration Data in Policymaking and How to Overcome Them 🎙️ Jasmijn Slootjes, Associate Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe 📖 Presence of Irregular Migration Flow Data in Public Debates and Policy Decision-Making? Insights from a Multiple Case Study Analysis 🎙️ Norbert Cyrus, Senior Researcher, Universität Osnabrück 📝 Register on https://lnkd.in/dhcYWNGW