Posts in Law and Policy
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Italian Border Management And Control Regime Between 2011 And 2017

by Andrea Terlizzi | University of Florence

The Italian approach to border management and migration control in the last few years can be defined as ‘schizophrenic’. There have been times of restriction in access to the territory and times of opening, above all for what search and sea rescue operations are concerned. The same definition might apply to the narratives and discourses developed in the public debate. Indeed, between 2011 and 2017 there has been an alternation of narratives over humanitarianism and securitization, with a constant emphasis on the need of solidarity among EU Member States and externalization.

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