The French migration policy: a tragic lack of long-term vision
An expert interview with Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche for #DialogueOnEurope
Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche comments on the way France and Europe fail to deal with the so-called “refugee crisis”. If some improvements have been achieved, in particular regarding the relocation system, integration remains a major issue, even for second or third-generation immigrants.
Policy Brief on Migration & Integration
2018 | Thinking Lab on Migration & Integration
Civil society actors from six European countries present their policy brief on Migration & Integration in Europe. The Thinking Lab developed nine policy recommendations divided into three main clusters.
Policy Brief on Sustainable Growth
2018 | Thinking Lab on Sustainable Growth
Civil society actors from six European countries present their policy brief on Sustainable Growth in Europe. The Thinking Lab developed six main policy recommendations focusing on two key priorities.
Policy Brief on Social Cohesion
2018 | Thinking Lab on Social Cohesion
Civil society actors from six European countries present their policy brief on Social Cohesion in Europe. The Thinking Lab developed seven main policy recommendations in four key areas.
Policy Brief on Populism
2018 | Thinking Lab on Populism
Civil society actors from six European countries present their policy brief on Populism in Europe. The Thinking Lab developed nine policy recommendations focusing on the creation of trust between citizens and the political sphere.
“There has been a constant neglect of the migration reality”
Interview with Meike Behrends on migration and asylum policy in Germany
In 2015, almost one million asylum-seekers came to Germany and the country still has to cope with the repercussions of this development – in social, political and economic terms. Yet, migration and integration is not a new phenomenon to Germany. In this interview, Meike Behrends, an expert on European migration policy talks about the historic development of migration in Germany and how the country’s integration approach has changed during the last decades.
Migration crisis in Greece: the need for a European action plan
An expert interview with Dimitris Varadinis for #DialogueOnEurope
Long considered as an emigration country, Greece started receiving immigrants in the 90’s. Over the last few years, the country had to deal with huge number of newcomers and despite the engagement of the social society, it doesn’t have the means to properly assist them. Greek authorities repeatedly asked for the support of the other European member states, which are reluctant to take responsibility.
Adapting to increased immigration: the problems faced by Italy
Insider perspective on working towards integration and refugee inclusion with Valentina Fabbri
In this interview for #DialogueOnEurope, Valentina Fabbri highlights flaws and particularities of the Italian system and its effects on refugees living in various capacities in Italy, comparing these to the European context.
Migration and Integration in Portugal: An example to follow?
A look at a country with one of the world's best level of protection for refugees' human rights, by Cláudia Pedra
Claudia Pedra, Director of the Network for Strategic and International Studies, comments on the way Portugal deals with the refugee crisis. Even in a country with one of the best asylum laws worldwide, integration and tolerance seem to remain problematic issues.
The EU Must Focus on the Root Causes of Migration

Following the latest tragedy involving migrants, 28 members and leaders of the EU have initiated plans for a military operation to combat criminal gangs who smuggle refugees in thousands per ship. The details of the initiative still need to be clarified, and the body of water where the operation will cover needs to be decided. This will require Libya’s permission to destroy the smugglers’ boats in its territorial waters. The EU needs to obtain a mandate in order to operate under Chapter 7 of the United Nations (UN) charter.
Introducing the Thinking Lab on Migration & Integration
16 engaged Europeans for concrete solutions to the refugee crisis and beyond
The Thinking Lab on Migration & Integration focuses on one of the most crucial challenges currently faced by the European Union. Within one year, based on the diverse experiences Southern European countries and Germany have so far gathered, the Lab will deliver a genuine European perspective on migration and integration policy. The concept of “people on the move” rather than “refugees” or “migrants” remains the center of the debate.
A young Spanish Generation “Trying Migration”
Interview with Cristina Faraco about Migration in Spain
The interview was conducted with Christina Faraco. She has studied Political Science and Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid and is living in Germany since 1998, where she has been working on research projects on the field of migration (European Migration Center). Since 2009 Christina was responsible for different mobility projects and in 2013 founded “La Red e.V.“, an association supporting new immigrants in Berlin. Currently she works at the Competence Center of Immigration of “Minor – Projektkontor für Bildung und Forschung e.V.”.
Europe: Act now!
Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR) 2016 Report on the Situation of refugees in Spain and Europe
Within its 2016 report, CEAR displays the extent of global forced displacement and the search for asylum, especially within the European Union. CEAR criticises the EU-Turkey agreement and presents own policy proposals for the European Union and the Spanish government.
DIALOGUE ON EUROPE – Project completed
The final Policy Briefs are online
Our DIALOGUE ON EUROPE came to an end in March 2018 with the publication of the Thinking Lab’s results. The Closing Conference of the project took place in Brussels on 19 March 2018. Discover here the four Policy Briefs on Migration and Integration, Populism, Social Cohesion and Sustainable Growth and spread the word!
Final results of the Thinking Labs online!
Check out the four policy briefs
Over the course of the last two years, civil society experts and practitioners from across Europe gathered in four DIALOGUE ON EUROPE Thinking Labs to deliver fresh ideas and to independently elaborate concrete policy recommendations on four European key areas: Migration & Integration, Populism, Social Cohesion, and Sustainable Growth. Discover the summary of their proposals and the full-length policy briefs below! (more…)
Closing Conference with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
The contributors of the trans-European project Dialogue on Europe present their final results
Four policy briefs, several workshops and two high-profile speeches conclude the more than two-years transnational dialogue process at eye level with young, promising thinkers from Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, Spain and Germany.
European civil society asks for sustainable, inclusive and climate-friendly growth path in the EU
How to rethink the meaning of economic growth in the EU
Luís Teles Morais and Sabrina Schulz question the importance given to economic growth in the EU. They call for a change of perspective and for a new focus on sustainable well-being as a broad societal goal. In this article previously published by the Portugues newspaper Público, they also present the main results of the DIALOGUE ON EUROPE Thinking Lab on Sustainable Growth.
“The European Union is a victim of its own success”
Cas Mudde on the root causes of populism in Europe
Cas Mudde is one of the most renowned experts on political extremism and populism in Europe. He is Associate Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia and Researcher at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo. In his interview for DIALOGUE ON EUROPE he talks about the structural reasons behind the rise of populist movements all over Europe, the failure of the traditional parties and why tax havens, unlike migration issues, are not part of the political agenda.
Third European Thinking Lab Summit
The Thinking Labs finalised their policy recommendations in Rome
On 13-15 October 2017, DIALOGUE ON EUROPE contributors from eight European countries met in Rome for the third and last European Thinking Lab Summit. This three-day meeting gave them the opportunity to further discuss the four main topics of the project, namely Migration & Integration, Populism, Social Cohesion and Sustainable Growth, and to finalise their policy recommendations for European decision-makers through various work and exchange sessions. (more…)
Tackling the exclusion of minorities in Europe
Mentoring: towards a culture of inclusion in Europe
In Europe we know that Portugal, France and Italy are the most unequal countries according to OECD household incomes. In addition to income inequality, inequality of opportunities may result from different types of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, or religion. Widespread inequalities lead to the exclusion of minorities. Despite the fact that ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is a central feature and value of the European Union minority exclusion still persists in the EU.