DossierThe New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

After years of erratic and uncoordinated actions, the European Commission has revealed the long-awaited New Pact on Migration and Asylum to “propose a fresh start” on this highly politicised policy priority. Will the "New Pact" become the coherent strategy on migration the EU needs? How can the EU strike the right balance between responsibility and solidarity, on the one hand, and opposed national interests and priorities, on the other hand?

Our dossier illustrates different perspectives on the European Commission’s proposal, with contributions from our foreign offices and partners in the EU and beyond.

Latest articles

Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel in Brussels

And yet it moves: monitoring the debate on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Analysis

As part of the examination of the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris office publishes a series of analyses devoted to this subject. This second article examines the progress of the debates on the Pact at European level, considering in particular the external dimension of migration and asylum policies and the relationship with third countries, as well as the legal routes of entry of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants into the EU.

By Christopher Hein

"Citizen of Moria", a story about the universal values of humankind, the power of art and real friendship and solidarity

Interview

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Thessaloniki office, together with the Goethe Institute Thessaloniki, organised a public screening of the movie “Citizen of Moria” and took our audience on a journey to Europe’s most notorious refugee camp. In a personal interview the film-maker and protagonist Ahmad Ebrahimi talks about the struggle of being forced to flee in search for protection.

By Neda Noraie-Kia

Old wine in new bottles? Monitoring the debate on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Analysis

This article outlines the main features of the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, and describes the context in which the proposal has been drafted. Some of the initial critical comments made by different stakeholders will be further highlighted, to draw some preliminary conclusions.

By Christopher Hein

Migration and asylum policy à la carte: a free hand for the obstructionists

Commentary

In mid-September 2020, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke out strongly in favour of a human and humane approach to the common EU Asylum Policy. Her lofty promises did not, however, survive very long.

By Eva van de Rakt, Anna Schwarz and Zora Siebert

Erik Marquardt MEP: “Migration management has become a euphemism for repelling refugees”

Interview

On 23 September, the European Commission tabled the “New Pact on Migration and Asylum”. An interview with MEP and migration policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA group at the European Parliament, Erik Marquardt, on the future of European asylum and migration.

By Eva van de Rakt

Paper doesn’t blush: The Commission presents a plan that does nothing to address the realities at the EU borders

Legal analysis

With the New Pact on Migration and Asylum the European Commission intends to square the circle – but does not succeed. An analysis from a legal perspective.

By Prof. Dr. Nora Markard

You can’t build on that: Externalisation as the cornerstone of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Commentary

Since 2015, the EU and its Member States have been moving away from an externalisation of migration control to an externalisation of their obligations to afford protection. The New Pact does not change this.

By Kirsten Krampe

Contributions from our foreign offices

Is Czechia finally ready to show some solidarity?

Commentary

In Czechia, debates about the EU's New Pact focus only on border protection, return and detention, rather than discussing more relevant proposals on legal migration, integration and inclusion.

By Magda Faltová

Aegean chronicles: A reporter’s confrontation with Europe’s failures and moral imperative

Background

A 6-year-old boy from Afghanistan drowned in November 2020 off the coast of Samos. Ηe was with his father and other asylum seekers onboard a dinghy that was shipwrecked. The tragic loss of a child’s life hardly made an impression on the international media or public discourse in Greece.

By Giorgos Christides

No Sound Basis for Solidarity but an Opportunity to Rethink Asylum

Commentary

Unless conditions in poor countries improve drastically, their citizens will continue to seek a better future elsewhere, even under the pretext of requiring international protection.

By Athanasios Koronis

Dublin Forever - Nothing New for the South

Commentary

In contrast to many declarations that Italy should not be left to face the challenges of mass boat arrivals from North Africa alone, the New Pact's proposals if anything renew the obsolete “Dublin system”.

By Christopher Hein

Nothing New in the North: The EU’s New Pact will not change much for Morocco

Commentary

The Moroccan government can live happily with the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. But many activists are disappointed by the contents of the Brussels Pact.

By Bauke Baumann

Poland wants no refugees – NGO’s critical look at the New Pact on Migration and Asylum

Commentary

Despite its tough public rhetoric, the Polish government might turn out to be more flexible behind closed doors regarding the New Pact, to prevent embarrassing defeats on issues that are far more important from a domestic policy point of view, such as the rule of law.

By Joanna Maria Stolarek and Gert Röhrborn

Migration in Senegal: Social visions instead of criminalization and deterrence of rhetoric

Migration in Senegal: Societal visions instead of criminalisation and the rhetoric of deterrence

Analysis

In the last few months, more than 500 migrants have lost their lives trying to leave West Africa for the Canary Islands and thus Europe, in a terrible repeat of the situation of 2005/2006. In 2006 alone, more than 32,000 migrants set off on the perilous journey from the coast of West Africa hoping to reach the Canary Islands across the sea.

By Usha Ziegelmayer

The New Pact on Migration and Asylum, yet another obstacle for Senegalese?

Commentary

Neither the Senegalese government nor the media have reacted to the publication of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. However, the close cooperation with FRONTEX remains a cause for concern.

By Dr. Mamadou Dimé, Dr. Selly Bâ and Usha Ziegelmayer

Insights from Serbia - a buffer zone for the EU’s illegal pushback policy?

Commentary

Is Serbia a transit country or slowly becoming a buffer zone for the EU’s illegal pushback policy and overall goal to reduce migration to its territory?

By Simon Ilse

Transit camp for migrants near the Tunisian border with Libya

Nothing new in the West!

Commentary

In Tunisia, the EU Migration Pact is received with diplomatic silence from politicians, apathy from the Tunisian authorities and powerless indignation from the civil society. This sobering pact only confirms once again for many Tunisians that the EU migration policy is a one-way affair.

By Dr. Mohamed Limem

Border Patrol Seen Against the Turkish Coast, Chios, 4 June2016

Ongoing Political Incentives but no Responsibility-Sharing for Turkey in the EU’s New Pact

Commentary

The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum intends to sustain EU-Turkey partnership with same old political incentives rather than new responsibility-sharing mechanisms. The Pact will thus promote securitisation in the Mediterranean without generating meaningful change.

By Birce Demiryontar

Related publications

Reception, detention and restriction of movement at EU external borders

E-paper

This paper critically mapa the current EU legal framework for deprivation of liberty and restriction on freedom of movement of migrants and asylum seekers, as well as resulting practice, to finally to discuss the 2020 legislative proposals for EU asylum reform. The discussion of the law and practice is put in the context of the international and EU human rights law framework governing deprivation of liberty and restriction on freedom of movement.

pdf

"Get Lost!": European Return Policies in Practice

Study

Current EU migration policies' increased focus on returns raises concerns on the adequacy of such measures with EU standards and fundamental rights. This publication highlights the problems and difficulties returnees face in Afghanistan, Syria, Tunisia, Senegal and Kosovo.

pdf

Places of Safety in the Mediterranean: The EU’s Policy of Outsourcing Responsibility

Study

It is of vital importance that rescuees are brought to a “Place of Safety”. The study analysis to which extend third countries can be considered "safe" and NGO rescue vessels can be obliged to disembark rescued migrants and refugees in places which are unsafe.

pdf

A Local Turn for European Refugee Politics

E-Paper

In this policy paper “A Local Turn for European Refugee Politics” the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung puts forward proposals for a more active role of the municipalities in refugee and asylum policy.

Download

Climate Justice and Migration

Study

With climate change looming, anxiety over immigration from the Global South is increasingly fuelled by apocalyptic fears of ecological breakdown. How should policymakers respond to the reality and future prospect of vast populations being displaced and relocated in an era of global heating?

pdf

"The Oranges in Europe taste better"

Study

There are many reasons to migrate: This publication provides a forum for scientists from Pakistan, Somalia and El Salvador, people, who had to flee from Syria, Burundi and Malawi as well as migrants and activists from Niger and Senegal to emphasise how little we know about "causes of migration and flight".

Download

Read all our publications

Related events

Green Room #2 Interview with the Greek Ombudsman on his latest report on alleged pushbacks

Event recording

Neda Noraie-Kia, Head of Migration Policy Europe at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Thessaloniki office, talked to the Greek Ombudsman, Mr. Andreas I. Pottakis, about his latest report on alleged pushbacks to Turkey of foreign nationals who had arrived in Greece in search for international protection. He raises serious concerns regarding the level of the protection of human rights in Greece and suggest investigation by the Greek police, but also EU policies in order to improve the transparency of the EU border and coast guard agency’s (FRONTEX).

By Neda Noraie-Kia

"Out of sight, out of mind? Frontex and Human Rights at the EU Borders", 3 March 2021

"Get Lost!" European Return Policies in Practice, 1 October 2020

Closed Ports, Dubious Partners: The EU’s Policy of Outsourcing Responsibility in the Mediterranean, 2 June 2020

DossierThe New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Latest articles

In the name of the European Union: on the significance of words

On the border: Greece’s response to Afghan asylum seekers

“2015 must never be allowed to happen again”: that is the mantra

Truly Indispensable! The Geneva Refugee Convention at 70

And yet it moves: monitoring the debate on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

"Citizen of Moria", a story about the universal values of humankind, the power of art and real friendship and solidarity

Old wine in new bottles? Monitoring the debate on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Migration and asylum policy à la carte: a free hand for the obstructionists

Erik Marquardt MEP: “Migration management has become a euphemism for repelling refugees”

Paper doesn’t blush: The Commission presents a plan that does nothing to address the realities at the EU borders

You can’t build on that: Externalisation as the cornerstone of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Contributions from our foreign offices

Is Czechia finally ready to show some solidarity?

Aegean chronicles: A reporter’s confrontation with Europe’s failures and moral imperative

No Sound Basis for Solidarity but an Opportunity to Rethink Asylum

Dublin Forever - Nothing New for the South

Nothing New in the North: The EU’s New Pact will not change much for Morocco

Poland wants no refugees – NGO’s critical look at the New Pact on Migration and Asylum

Migration in Senegal: Societal visions instead of criminalisation and the rhetoric of deterrence

The New Pact on Migration and Asylum, yet another obstacle for Senegalese?

Insights from Serbia - a buffer zone for the EU’s illegal pushback policy?

Nothing new in the West!

Ongoing Political Incentives but no Responsibility-Sharing for Turkey in the EU’s New Pact

Related content

The EU Migration Policy: More Solidarity Is Needed!

Leave no One Behind

How coronavirus has worsened the plight of refugees in Tunisia

Migrants and Refugees in a Time of Pandemic: Access to Healthcare Services in Turkey

Crossing Borders - Refugee and Asylum Policy in Europe [2016]

Related publications

Reception, detention and restriction of movement at EU external borders

"Get Lost!": European Return Policies in Practice

Places of Safety in the Mediterranean: The EU’s Policy of Outsourcing Responsibility

A Local Turn for European Refugee Politics

Climate Justice and Migration

"The Oranges in Europe taste better"

Related events

Green Room #2 Interview with the Greek Ombudsman on his latest report on alleged pushbacks