2018年-CEPS欧洲政策研究中心_Sharing_responsibility_for_refugees_and_expanding_legal_migration_104页_6mb

2017 MEDAM Assessment Report on Asylum and Migration Policies in Europe: Summary

Core Content

The 2017 MEDAM Assessment Report on Asylum and Migration Policies in Europe focuses on two main objectives: sharing responsibility for refugees and expanding legal immigration. The report is authored by a team led by Matthias Lücke and supported by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), and the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) at the European University Institute (EUI), with funding from Stiftung Mercator.

Main Views and Key Information

1. Challenges to Asylum and Migration Policies in Europe

• Irregular migration decline: The number of irregular asylum seekers entering the EU dropped sharply after 2015, easing pressure on reception systems in some countries.
• Sustainability concerns: Policies like the EU-Turkey agreement and the closure of Western Balkans borders have been effective in reducing arrivals, but their long-term sustainability is questionable.
• Humanitarian emergencies: The situation in Greece and the central Mediterranean route (e.g., Libya to Italy) remains challenging, and similar measures may be hard to implement elsewhere.
• Dublin regulations: These rules place most asylum responsibility on the first EU country of arrival, which is often irregular, and are seen as unfair and unsustainable.
• Economic and social integration: Immigrants, especially non-EU ones, face challenges in employment and income, with significant gaps for women and those from outside the EU.
• Public attitudes: Negative perceptions of immigrants persist in many EU countries, often based on ethnic identities and media narratives, rather than economic impact.
• Migrants' agency: Migrants are active agents in their decisions, and their integration depends on their willingness to invest in human capital, such as language and vocational skills.

2. Policy Recommendations

• Equitable refugee responsibility sharing: Refugees should be hosted more equitably, both globally (between host countries and the international community) and within the EU (between first arrival and other member states).
• Financial burden sharing: EU and member states should increase and make more predictable financial contributions to refugee protection, which would help reduce secondary movements and support integration.
• Legal immigration expansion: Member states should expand legal employment opportunities for non-EU citizens, particularly by offering regular migration pathways that encourage investment in skills.
• Integration through conditionality: Member states may apply differential conditionality (e.g., language skills, age, vocational qualifications) to ensure better integration prospects for new arrivals.
• Development assistance: The EU should link development aid to language and vocational training in source countries, helping to prepare potential migrants for legal employment.

3. Migration Trends in the EU

• Immigration increase: Since 1960, immigration has increased significantly in the old EU member states (EU-15), with most immigrants coming from outside the EU.
• Emigration decline: Traditional high-emigration countries like Greece, Ireland, and Italy have seen a drop in emigration rates.
• New EU member states: These countries have experienced high emigration rates, especially after the EU-15 granted them labor market access, while immigration remains low.
• Gender and education gaps: Male immigrants tend to have higher employment rates than female immigrants, and the share of university graduates among immigrants remains low in EU member states.

4. Case Study: Bosnian Refugees in the 1990s

• Integration outcomes: Refugees who settled in EU countries without being forced to return had favorable labor market participation, regardless of how long it took to gain access.
• Educational attainment: The second generation of Bosnian refugees achieved educational levels comparable to those of children born to native parents.
• Return challenges: Returnees faced economic difficulties due to ethnic divisions and high unemployment in Bosnia, but remittances from the diaspora helped boost local economies.

5. Global Governance of Refugee Protection

• 1951 Refugee Convention: Provides a framework for protecting refugees, emphasizing that they should not be penalized for illegal entry and should not be returned to countries where they face persecution.
• Responsibility sharing: The convention encourages responsibility sharing among host countries, which is particularly relevant for low- and middle-income states.
• EU role: The EU should enhance its support for refugee protection, both financially and through policy mechanisms like resettlement and humanitarian visas.

Key Figures and Tables

• Figure 1.1–1.10: Illustrate migration trends, employment rates, and refugee flows over time.
• Table 1.1: Provides an overview of registered refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992–95.
• Table 2.1: Lists main illegal migratory routes into the EU.
• Table 3.1–3.2: Show regional dispersion rates and survey participant characteristics.

Conclusion

The report underscores the need for a comprehensive and sustainable approach to asylum and migration policy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of migration challenges and the importance of migrant agency. It calls for greater financial and legal responsibility sharing to ensure that both refugees and migrants benefit from a more integrated and equitable system. By expanding legal immigration opportunities and supporting integration efforts, the EU can reduce irregular migration and enhance the economic and social well-being of both host and origin countries.