VULNER Blog Series

The VULNER blog series includes contributions from VULNER project members and invited experts on specific issues that relate to ongoing policy developments.

Criminological analysis of the Commission Guidance on the implementation of the Facilitators Package in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum of 2020: Between legal perspectives and empirical realities
In this blogpost, Mathilde du Jardin takes a criminological approach towards the EU’s guidelines on the definition and prevention of the facilitation of unauthorized entry, transit and residence, which are outlined in the EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum. She reflects on the gap between criminalisation practices and the EU regulatory framework.
In the Light of the Commission’s Intention to Modernise the Current Anti-Trafficking Framework: A Common Victim Identification System?
In this blog post, Georgina Rodriguez Munoz argues that the Directive 2011/36/EU on human trafficking prioritises security concerns over victim identification. In view of the European Commission's intention to reformulate the current framework, this blogpost makes recommendations on how to establish a new EU-wide victim identification system, including a process that would allow the authorities to detect those who are potentially vulnerable to exploitation, especially in highly sensitive locations, such as refugee camps, border crossing points or asylum centres.
The Assessment of Vulnerable Asylum Seekers’ Rights at the External Borders of the European Union
How can the border process foreseen by the EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum guarantee the full and systematic identification of vulnerable asylum seekers, as well as the protection standards set out by the Common European Asylum System? In this blog post, Cécile Pierson explores the likely evolutions of the assessment of vulnerable asylum seekers at the EU external borders.
Situational Vulnerability in Supranational and Italian Legislation and Case Law on Labour Exploitation
How to identify situations of abuse of vulnerability, which are constitutive of severe labour exploitation? In this blogpost, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro and Letizia Palumbo call for a situational approach to identify positions of vulnerability. Such an approach shouldn’t be focused on personal characteristics exclusively, but it should also consider the broader social context and gender-based inequalities that should be appraised from an intersectional perspective.
‘Vulnerability’ in the Case-Law of Belgian Asylum Courts: Time to Move Beyond a Formal Approach
A ‘formal’ approach to vulnerability may guide the decision-making process. But it also fails to understand that vulnerabilities can affect the ability of asylum seekers to cope with the administrative requirements of the asylum procedure. Zoé Crine explains the difficulties in this blog post.
Refugee Accommodations in Germany: A Challenge (not only) for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers
It is not easy to get an overview of the German reception system. There are different types of refugee accommodation centres, which differ in terms of the level of protection of vulnerable residents. This blog post by Jakob Junghans tries to give our English-speaking audience an understanding of the German approach to refugee accommodation.
Refugees as a Prey (not only) of Autocrats
An autocrat using migrants to blackmail the European Union - the current situation at the EU borders to Belarus is not new. Winfried Kluth suggests a paradigm shift on the question of how the EU and the international community handle migration, with the development of additional legal pathways.
Lessons Europe can learn from Uganda
Humanitarian crises can happen anytime at any border. Whereas Europe protects its territory with security forces in heavy armour, more than 11,000 people crossed Uganda’s borders on one day. Sophie Nakueira explains how the country balances the protection of its territorial integrity and of human rights.
The Need for a Comprehensive EU Framework to Stabilize EU Borders
The crisis at the border between Poland and Belarus highlights that Europe needs to prepare itself for surges in migration movements. A border screening procedure, as suggested by the European Commission, can be the basis for a systematic framework, thinks Luc Leboeuf, – but he also sees some issues.
Resettlement: Durable Solution for the ‘most vulnerable’
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there were 26.4 million refugees worldwide in 2020. Further reflection is needed to ensure that on the international, EU and national levels we continue to improve the protections in place for these individuals. In honor of World Refugee Day, Erlend Paasche, VULNER member at the Insitute for Social Research, along with researchers from our sister projects PROTECT and Asile, came together to reflect upon the state of international protection in 2021.
Vulnerable or not, no durable Solutions on the Horizon for Refugees in Lebanon
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there were 26.4 million refugees worldwide in 2020. Further reflection is needed to ensure that on the international, EU and national levels we continue to improve the protections in place for these individuals. In honor of World Refugee Day, Chaden El Daif, VULNER member at the Centre for Lebanese Studies, along with researchers from our sister projects PROTECT and Asile, came together to reflect upon the state of international protection in 2021.
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