Even if less media-exposed than anti migrants and anti-refugees speeches and measures, civil society actions grew significantly in the EU since the 2015 ‘refugee crisis’. Overview of these solidarity initiatives.

The UN’s Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration was adopted last December in spite of a few European States’ objections. Analysis of a controversy highlighting the growing influence of European populist rhetoric on a global scale.

The German city of Dresden belongs to several networks of European cities supporting the reception of migrants and refugees. For a few years now, the city has been developing action plans to promote hospitality and to tackle anti-immigration views. Meet Dirk Hilbert, Dresden’s Mayor.

As some European political leaders adopted speeches and political measures openly hostile to refugees and migrants, xenophobia is spreading all over the EU, therefore potentially affecting the upcoming May European Parliament elections. Is a common European policy on immigration and asylum still an option? What about European solidarity?

“Did migration contribute to the recent rise of right-wing populism in Europe? At first glance, the question seems trivial. For most right-wing populist parties in Europe put the immigration issue on the top of their agenda exploiting anxieties over cultural disintegration and rising crime”

Vincent Cochetel, Special Envoy of the UNHCR for the Central Mediterranean situation, shares his views on the EU proposals for a better management of migratory flows in the Mediterranean Sea, and on issues related to the cooperation with neighboring countries of the EU.

“The idea is that if Europe can lift the drawbridge and confine migrants in its Southern neighbourhood, it need not face a divisive debate on internal solidarity. To borrow from Catherine Woollard of ECRE, this looks rather more like “Externalization Fantasyland” than like a feasible policy plan.”

Following a UNHCR-IOM joint proposal for the creation of a “regional disembarkation mechanism”, the idea of “regional disembarkation platforms” in third countries, and “controlled centers” on European territory were proposed at the June European Council. Since then, discussions are at a standstill.