Following the the re-election of Angela Merkel, Germany’s new coalition government is set to start work. Some of its most pressing issues revolve around the country's future course on migration, both at the national and European level. This blog post traces how the heated electoral campaign influenced the new government’s coalition agreement and assesses its proposals on EU migration policy. more
Two years have passed since the EU and Turkey sealed a ‘deal’ to halt large-scale migration to Europe. As numbers remained low, the public eye turned to other theatres. New developments, however, call for a fresh look at the ‘EU-Turkey deal’. Marie Walter-Franke takes stock of the refugee swapping mechanism and the accompanying aid package. more
EU migration governance is struggling to control migratory flows to Europe. To stay in the driver’s seat, the EU and its Member States need to commit to a broad spectrum of operational interventions and progressive policy options available. This paper by Nils Feller presents recommendations to better manage migration and strengthen third country cooperation. more
The idea to set up EU hotspots in North Africa keeps coming up as European leaders seek enhanced control of mixed migration in the Mediterranean. Like the cat in Harry Miller’s comical song, external processing of asylum claims just won’t stay away. How realistic is it for the EU to establish external hotspots? This blog post outlines political, legal and practical issues related to the hotspots idea. more
The claim ‘Brexit means Brexit’ does not qualify for the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ). Resulting from a long history of differentiated integration, the UK has never been a full in- or outsider of the AFSJ. Dr. Funda Tekin argues that a tailor-made Brexit solution should allow for the UK’s future participation in those policy areas in which a full Brexit would lead to a lose-lose situation. more
