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Invisibles at the times of an invisible enemy: migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Italy during the Coronavirus pandemic

by Mattia Collini | University of Florence

While most of the world is now fighting an invisible enemy, the category of invisibles has also expanded beyond microbial things. Among, these, at least in Italy, we find migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Migration was a hot topic in Italian politics and media, however, with the explosion of the COVID-19 outbreak, this issue, as well as practically all ‘ordinary’ ones we were used to, suddenly disappeared, with the whole public, and political attention - understandably - focused on the virus…

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Border ManagementRESPOND Horizon2020May 17, 2020Spotlight on RESPONDERS, University of FlorenceComment

The so-called “Malta agreement”: four months later

by Andrea Catani | University of Florence

On 23 September 2019, in Valletta (Republic of Malta), Germany, France, Italy and Malta – in the presence of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU and of the European Commission – drafted an agreement, entitled “Joint declaration of intent on a controlled emergency procedure – voluntary commitments by Members States for a predictable temporary solidarity mechanism”, known as “the Malta agreement”. This is neither an EU legal act nor an international agreement, but a simple “joint declaration” signed at an informal summit by a small number of EU Member State’s Prime Ministers, and yet, as it produces effects on people’s lives, having a better understanding of what it is about is relevant.

The main commitment stated in the agreement (paragraph 1) is to “set up a more predictable and efficient temporary solidarity mechanism in order to ensure the dignified disembarkation of migrants taken aboard, on the high seas, by vessels in a place of safety”.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Border ManagementRESPOND Horizon2020February 20, 2020Spotlight on RESPONDERS, University of FlorenceComment

UNEASY MISSION OF NGOS IN PROTECTION AND RECEPTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES IN POLAND. REFLECTIONS FROM FIELDWORK

by Justyna Szałańska | Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw

Since 2015, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in helping asylum seekers and refugees have been facing difficult times in Poland. Firstly, it stems from the heated atmosphere around increased migration to Europe beginning in the mentioned year. Secondly, and more significantly, it is an effect of the government withholding the funds from the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in late 2015 until the new strategy of migration policy of Poland is adopted (see more: Pędziwiatr 2019)[1]. In 2017, the government decided to transfer the control over funds from AMIF to voivodship governors.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Law and Policy, Border Management, PolandRESPOND Horizon2020October 30, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, University of WarsawComment

Migrants and healthcare. Food for thoughts from Ginevra Cerrina Feroni’s latest publication

by Andrea Terlizzi | University of Florence

The book Health systems and immigration: A comparative analysis edited by Ginevra Cerrina Feroni investigates how health systems in Europe function in relation to the migration phenomenon. The study includes countries adopting different models of health systems: Anglo-Saxon (United Kingdom), Bismarckian (France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands), Southern European (Italy, Spain, and Greece) Eastern European (Hungary), and Scandinavian (Sweden and Denmark). In terms of financing, these countries essentially belong to the Beveridgean national health service (NHS) and the Bismarckian social health insurance (SHI) types of system.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Italy, Law and Policy, Border ManagementRESPOND Horizon2020October 27, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Andrea Terlizzi, University of FlorenceComment

Migration Policy and Politics in Poland

by Konrad Pędziwiatr | Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw

In recent years Poland has become an increasingly attractive destination for immigrants amongst whom Ukrainians form the largest group. In 2016, it recorded the highest number of employment-related residence permits (almost half a million) for third country nationals among the EU Member States. Thus, Poland, whose citizens in the last three decades have significantly contributed to the European migration processes and form a new diaspora of over 2 million persons, is transforming from an emigration towards immigration country.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Law and Policy, Border Management, UKRESPOND Horizon2020August 20, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Glasgow Caledonian University Comment

LEAVING HOME: HOPES, BORDERS AND CHANGE

by Pınar Aksu | Glasgow Caledonian University

Recently, I have carried out interviews for the RESPOND research in Glasgow, Scotland. It was an emotional, frustrating and hopeful process, with many of the participants openly talking about their experiences. Many people leave their country for different reasons; protection, new life, hope and better future. Sadly, some are forced to leave their country, so sudden there is no time to gather memories and say final goodbyes.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Law and Policy, Border Management, UKRESPOND Horizon2020July 23, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Glasgow Caledonian UniversityComment

Second Roundtable of the Italian Migration Governance Network

by Andrea Terlizzi & Mattia Collini | University of Florence

The second RESPOND roundtable of the Italian Migration Governance Network was held on the 2nd of July at the University of Florence, eight months after the first one. On that occasion, the purpose was to discuss some key issues relating to the governance of the migration phenomenon in Italy. In particular, the discussion revolved around three main migration policy areas: border management, reception, and integration policies. Participants were encouraged to share different points of view and approaches and were free to raise new reflections.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Italy, Law and Policy, Border ManagementRESPOND Horizon2020July 22, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Andrea Terlizzi, University of FlorenceComment

Assessing Austrian Policy Reforms: Practitioners’ Points of View

by Ivan Josipovic & Ursula Reeger | Austrian Academy of Sciences

As we discussed in our first blog entry, the summer of migration in 2015 left a considerable mark on Austrian politics and led to multiple policy reforms. Political debates on refugees’ rights and duties continue to this day, while the number of new arrivals has steeply declined and the situation of reception has largely normalized. Under the framework of RESPOND, we spent the last months conducting interviews with eleven practitioners, who are active in the fields of asylum and integration.

Border Management, Austria, Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Law and PolicyRESPOND Horizon2020May 31, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, University of Florence, Austrian Academy of Science, Ivan Josipovic, Ursula Reeger, Assesing Austrian Policy ReformsComment

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