Better Policies and Laws to Address Migrants’ Vulnerabilities
While the member states’ interior ministers negotiated a possibly historic Asylum reform, VULNER researchers discussed policy recommendations for migration. At the VULNER conference in Brussels on 8 and 9 June 2023, our researchers were joined by policymakers, stakeholders, and academic experts.
Watch video recordings of the VULNER Conference on June 8-9, 2023 (YouTube) (Will be uploaded soon)
See our key findings and policy recommendations (PDF)
The EU-funded VULNER Project presented findings from three years of legal analysis and fieldwork in seven countries. The conference broached topics such as: Housing, Working Conditions of Social Workers, Temporary Migrants, Unaccompanied Minors, Trafficking, Resettlement and Aid. Keynotes were given by Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament), Anna Triandafyllidou (Toronto Metropolitan University), and James Hathaway (University of Michigan).
In recent years, policymakers and stakeholders have increasingly stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable migrants. “Vulnerability” is a powerful term that can build consensus on divisive topics. Yet civil society actors have pointed to a lack of consistency in the ways institutional actors address migrants’ vulnerabilities.
“Minors will be detained at European borders”:
Parliamentarian Bricmont warns of EU asylum reform
VULNER Press release from June 8 2023
BRUSSELS | Saskia Bricmont, Member of the European Parliament, has sharply criticised the asylum reforms envisioned by the EU interior ministers. “The screening regulation currently negotiated foresees that children as young as 12 years old will undergo security checks and screening procedures,” said the Belgian Green politician on Thursday in Brussels, shortly before the agreement in Luxemburg was reached. “This will clearly lead to the detention of minors.” Bricmont spoke at the final conference of the VULNER project, which brought together policymakers, civil society, and experts on migration policy and law.
Bricmont is a Member of the Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament, as well as of the spyware inquiry committee. She has been a defender of childrens’ rights and a vocal critic of surveillance. “Member States at Council are very eager to discuss fingerprinting and screening,” she said, “but not how to ensure solidarity and decent reception in Europe.”
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Read the full press release here
For further questions or interview requests please contact
Peter Weissenburger: weissenburger@demogr.mpg.de