Europaudvalget 2020-21
EUU Alm.del Bilag 585
Offentligt
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Concept Note
Second High-level Interparliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum
Monday, 14th June 2021
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migration and asylum policies
Migration is a phenomenon that has always concerned the European continent. Migratory
flows, both from outside and within Europe, have redefined and enriched our societies,
shaping our present identity.
Over the past few years, we have seen the rise of migratory flows across Europe and beyond,
which has been triggered by some of key challenges of our contemporary world: political
instability and growing authoritarianism, inequality and extreme poverty, paired and
exacerbation of climate change and environmental degradation.
People who decide to migrate and to seek refugee are too often exposed to risks, distress and
abuses. Many of them are caught in the trap of human smugglers and embark on perilous
journeys. We can see this happening every day at the European’s shores.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only added another element of complexity to an already highly
problematic scenario.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the worst global crisis since the end of World War II.
It has caused deep disruptions at the social, economic and political levels in all societies
around the world. The outbreak of the pandemic can be seen as a product of the contradictions
of our globalised world. Indeed, the COVID-19 crisis is considered by many as a
demonstration of the impact of biodiversity loss on human health. At the same time, the
pandemic has once more confronted ourselves with our fragility and interconnectedness.
The pandemic has not only affected people’s health, but namely work, income and education,
disproportionally impacting on the most socio-economically vulnerable populations, including
migrants and refugees. Away from Europe and the US, the crisis has indeed hit the developing
countries very hard, whether in South Asia, Africa or Latin America. This poses enormous
risks for the future of the world in terms of inequality and social cohesion but also for peace
and security.
COVID-19 pandemic is also having profound impacts on migration patterns at local and global
level, and it is deemed to have a multiplier effect on future displacements. The pandemic has
cut off mobility pathways, stranded migrants, destroyed jobs and income, reduced remittances
and pushed millions of migrants and vulnerable populations into poverty.
 EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 585: Invitation til interparlamentarisk virtuel konference om migration og asyl 14/6-21
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The EU should also lead efforts of the international community in supporting low- and middle-
income countries, especially those in the European neighbourhood, in their economic
recovery.
Against this background, this thematic session of the High-level Interparliamentary
Conference aims to address the following topics:
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The impact of the pandemic on the economic and political stability of countries
of origins and transit;
An EU Strategy for Africa- Developing the comprehensive Strategy with Africa
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the role of other international actors such as Russia and China.
Engaging with states on the main migratory routes- the role of the Rabat,
Khartum processes and the regional African organisations;
Supporting countries of origin and transit in capacity building in terms of law
enforcement frameworks and operational capacity; impact of weak governance
on effectiveness in achieving partnerships on migration.
Reinforcing partner countries’ capabilities on migration governance, i.e. the
impact on returns
The External dimension of migration and asylum policies
We live in a world where interdependence is becoming more and more conflictual, in particular
with the growing strategic rivalry between the US and China. We also see a broader trend
towards competition between countries and societal systems, especially with some of our
neighbors such as Russia and Turkey who seem to want to return to a logic of empires, as
HR/VP Borrell has remarked.
Our citizens feel they live in an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world. We need to
reassure them that we can provide European answers. It is no secret that migration has
become a key subject in the external relations of the EU and assumed a more prominent place
in the foreign policy agendas.
The importance of an external dimension is underlined in the Pact on Migration and Asylum
proposed by the European Commission that proposes to follow a comprehensive approach.
This comprehensive approach lies on the principle of “mutually
beneficial and tailor made
partnerships with key third countries of origin and transit”.
The reinforcement of the migration aspect in the external relations, improving cooperation and
partnerships with origin and transit countries, starts to be considered as crucial.
We need to conceive the external dimension of migration and asylum policies as a part of our
foreign policy, not just as a tool to enforce returns. We also need to move away from internal
solutions based solely on a law enforcement approach, and address the complexity of the
migration phenomena, including with a view to the evolution of our EU labour markets and
demographic trends. In addition, the external dimension needs to be embedded with the
internal dimension in a holistic and comprehensive approach to asylum and migration
management in the EU.
Joint Communication “Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa”, JOIN(2020) 4 final of 9
March 2020.
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 EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 585: Invitation til interparlamentarisk virtuel konference om migration og asyl 14/6-21
Against this background, this thematic session of the High-level Interparliamentary
Conference aims to address the following topics:
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Building mutually beneficial and tailor made partnerships with key third
countries of origin and transit in view of achieving a comprehensive EU
approach on migration and asylum management, including the promotion of
legal pathways for migration to the EU, the integration of migrants and tackling
human trafficking;
Supporting the establishment of a holistic and comprehensive approach to
asylum and migration management in the EU;
The external dimension of migration and asylum policies as a part of EU foreign
policy; fostering strategic cooperation in policy areas of mutual interest and
ensuring a coherent, sustainable and effective cooperation in different fields;
Supporting migration management and asylum systems in partner countries;
reinforcing partner countries’ capabilities on migration governance, i.e. the
impact on returns;
Human rights and refugee protection standards in the centre of partnerships
with third countries.
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