E.g., 03/27/2023
E.g., 03/27/2023
Europe

Europe

European Union

Europe faces an interesting set of immigration challenges and opportunities: Demographic pressures as many European societies age, a lively and at times tense policy and political debate over questions of identity and immigrant integration, and a unique policy environment that has knit many European countries together with regards to free movement, the management of outer borders, asylum, and other immigration-related topics. MPI has long conducted research and analysis of European policy on topics ranging from labor mobility and border security to immigrant integration, citizenship, and foreign qualifications recognition, which can be found below.

Photo of a teacher from Ukraine organizing activities for refugee children in Moldova
Commentaries

Prolonged Ukrainian Displacement: An Uneasy Marriage of Reception, Integration, and Return Policies

One year into the vast Ukrainian displacement crisis sparked by Russia's invasion, European policymakers are having to confront the likelihood of prolonged stay for millions of Ukrainians and the prospect of new displacement. How can they juggle longer-term integration, first-reception services for new arrivals, and prepare Ukrainians for eventual return to rebuild their country? They will have to focus on multipronged policies and services, this commentary suggests.

A flow chart showing the steps of the policy cycle
Policy Briefs

Promoting Evidence-Informed Immigrant Integration Policymaking

While many policy areas have seen a revolution in how information is gathered, shared, and used to inform new policies and improve existing ones, immigrant integration has not kept pace. This policy brief explores why integration policy in Europe has not yet seen the development of a robust evidence culture and offers recommendations for creating an environment in which evidence-informed policymaking can flourish.

Image of women and young children from Ukraine arriving at train station in Bucharest
Commentaries

Why the European Labor Market Integration of Displaced Ukrainians Is Defying Expectations

People displaced from Ukraine are finding work more rapidly in European countries than prior refugee cohorts. But uncertainty over how long they will stay, combined with hurdles such as language barriers, has meant many are prioritizing any job over the right job. This commentary examines how policymakers could address this waste of skills as they seek to fill pressing labor needs and facilitate deeper integration of the new arrivals.

Recent Activity

Cover MPIEurope EnviroMigration
Policy Briefs
May 2013
Migration and Environmental Change: Assessing the Developing European Approach
By  Andrew Geddes and Will Somerville
MPI event three panelists behind table
Multimedia
April 25, 2013
Sharing Lessons, Sharing Responsibility: Combating Human Trafficking
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Reports
March 2013
Immigration and National Identity in Norway
By  Thomas Hylland Eriksen
MPIEurope FreeMovement Intg
Reports
March 2013
The Integration Needs of Mobile EU Citizens: Impediments and Opportunities
By  Elizabeth Collett
Cover_Arango
Reports
March 2013
Exceptional in Europe? Spain's Experience with Immigration and Integration
By  Joaquín Arango
Cover Germanycasestudy
Reports
March 2013
Identity and (Muslim) Integration in Germany
By  Naika Foroutan
Cover Kremer netherlands
Reports
March 2013
The Netherlands: From National Identity to Plural Identifications
By  Monique Kremer
cover facing2020
Policy Briefs
February 2013
Facing 2020: Developing a New European Agenda for Immigration and Asylum Policy
By  Elizabeth Collett

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Recent Activity

Policy Briefs
May 2013

Migration and Environmental Change: Assessing the Developing European Approach

This policy brief explores the relationship between environmental change and migration to Europe in light of recent scholarship challenging the notion that environmental change triggers mass migration. It presents an overview of European policy response in this area and summarizes the spectrum of proposed solutions.
Audio
April 25, 2013

Sharing Lessons, Sharing Responsibility: Combating Human Trafficking

This MPI event discussed the Dutch model for fighting human trafficking and the strategic and operational dilemmas that public prosecutors in the Netherlands face.

Reports
March 2013

The Netherlands: From National Identity to Plural Identifications

This report discusses the political debate surrounding national identity in the Netherlands against the backdrop of growing public anxiety about immigrants and their effect on local communities. While policies designed to mitigate these fears largely stress national identity and demand cultural assimilation, the report provides an alternative set of recommendations based on the notion of plural identification.

Reports
March 2013

Identity and (Muslim) Integration in Germany

Finding some of the deepest anti-Muslim sentiments in Europe within German public opinion, this report explores the relationship between German national identity and immigration. It provides an overview of demographics, trends, and current debates, with recommendation on how to challenge prevailing stereotypes of Muslims and ensure equal outcomes for immigrants and their descendants.

Reports
March 2013

Exceptional in Europe? Spain's Experience with Immigration and Integration

This report examines why Spain, one of the countries hit hardest by the economic crisis with some of Europe’s highest levels of unemployment, has not seen a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. The report describes how the government and general populace have responded to immigration before and after the onset of the economic crisis, and highlights possible reasons for Spain’s exceptional openness.

Reports
March 2013

The Integration Needs of Mobile EU Citizens: Impediments and Opportunities

The integration of mobile EU citizens as a specific target group has not been widely discussed, either at EU or national levels, and EU-level integration policies focus on the integration of legally residing third-country nationals. This report investigates the broad range of integration needs that exist in Europe.

Reports
March 2013

Immigration and National Identity in Norway

This report assesses the connection between the recent rise of resentment against immigration and broader trends in Norwegian nationalism, and proposes a few policy recommendations with the aim of minimizing this rift in Norwegian society.

Reports
February 2013

How Free Is Free Movement? Dynamics and Drivers of Mobility within the European Union

While free movement is at the heart of the European project, the merits and impacts of intra-EU mobility have come under significant scrutiny recently amid public anxiety about competition for jobs and exploitation of welfare systems. This report provides a detailed assessment of free movement, motivations for migration, and challenges countries may need to address as intra-EU mobility enters its next phase. 

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