Our History
As a leading independent non-profit think tank, the Migration Policy Group is committed to achieving lasting progress towards a more open and inclusive European society.
We pursue this mission through quality independent research, expert policy analysis, network building, advocacy, benchmarking and training.
Since our establishment in 1995, we have played a pivotal role in shaping European migration, integration and anti-discrimination policies and law - many original MPG initiatives have become established features of the European Union's legal and policy landscape.
We have consistently come up with innovative solutions based on sound research and extensive consultations. Examples range from our groundbreaking campaign for EU-wide anti-discrimination laws to our imaginative programmes and reports on migrant integration.
Working with partner organisations throughout Europe and beyond, we maintain durable relationships with activists and watchdogs, researchers, academics, opinion formers and policymakers.
To read a 12-page overview of MPG's activities from 1995-2010, click here to download The MPG Story - 15 years of strategic thinking on equality & mobility.
Click on the link or below to download a visual Timeline of our Activities, or scroll down to see the list of our Projects according to their original launch dates.
MPG Timeline
- MPG Timeline (38.6 KB)
Projects Timeline:
The European Commission selected the Migration Policy Group and its partners to organise a series of European reports and seminars around the new European indicators of migrant integration
The main objective of the Project Promoting EU Non-discrimination and Equality standards in the programming and implementation of Structural Funds is to make proposals to the EU institutions for amendment of the regulatory framework of the Structural Funds with a view to reinforcing the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination and equality in the programming and implementation of Structural Funds, in particular towards Roma
Explore the links between acquisition of nationality and the integration processes and encourage effective measures for facilitating immigrants' access to citizenship in the EU
Value Migration: What influences the transition from international student to highly skilled migrant? Analysing Europe's competitiveness in the retention of international students and graduates
The “Immigrant Citizens Survey” will ask immigrants to assess their aspirations and needs for integration and then evaluate how effective policies are in meeting them. The pilot will start in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain
MigNet is a network of independent legal practitioners in the field of immigration law
The "Awareness-raising in the areas of non-discrimination and equality targeted at civil society organisations" project (ART project) aims to help strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations working on non-discrimination and equality by developing training materials and activities for 32 countries across Europe
The research investigates whether four Central European countries - Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Bulgaria - are improving integration policy by opening opportunities for immigrants to participate in political and social life of the country
MPG is undertaking a pilot project funded by the European Programme on Integration and Migration (EPIM) to assess the extent to which migrants’ voices are successfully heard at all levels of interaction with political parties (constituents, voters, activists, employees, and political candidates). A major output will be the development of benchmarks to help parties “practice what they preach” by mainstreaming diversity practices into party processes across the political spectrum
A mapping of the legal, institutional and policy framework regarding anti-discrimination in Turkey and the Western Balkans
MPG is assisting the European Foundation Centre in its initiative to advance leadership in diversity and inclusiveness in the foundation sector, funded by the American Express Foundation
The Migration Policy Group has developed a tool to evaluate refugee integration policies in collaboration with UNHCR Budapest
The ‘Diversity and Equality in European Cities’ project (DIVE) seeks to benchmark how municipalities use diversity and equality considerations when acting as policy-makers, employers, service providers and buyers of goods and services
Building the EU Immigration Portal: The European Commission Web Portal on Immigration
The EU Immigration Portal serves as a first point of entry to reliable, practical and up-to-date information on immigration issues. It provides useful basic information written in user-friendly language, and gives rapid and direct access to relevant external websites for further details
Awareness raising on Situation Testing methods.
MPG has co-published a handbook on Situation testing and is currently implementing a project on Situation Testing
In a joint project, MPG and EPIM publish updated information on migration policies in the European Commission with a Guide to locating those policies in each of the Directorate Generals of the EC
European Web Site on Integration: The European Commission's Portal for Information on Integration
The aim of the European Web Site on Integration is to help improve the effectiveness of integration policies and practices in the European Union by sharing successful strategies and supporting collaboration and cooperation
Policies on integration and diversity in the OSCE: An exploratory study of some OSCE participating States prepared by MPG at the request of the OSCE
Setting up a System of Benchmarking to Measure the Success of Integration Policies in Europe
The INTI-CITIES project 'Benchmarking Integration Governance in European Cities' assesses integration policies in European cities using the method of peer reviews. The project will measure effectiveness against specific benchmarks and deliver expert-validated, comparative knowledge on local practices.
The acquisition of nationality in the EU Member States: rules, practices and quantitative developments (NATAC)
Training programmes and seminars on law, policy and good practice for government officials, city administrators, equality practitioners, trade unions, employer groups, judges and civil society organisations
European Network of Independent Legal Experts in the Non-discrimination Field
The Migrant Integration Policy Index is a unique long-term project which evaluates and compares what governments are doing to promote the integration of migrants in all EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries.
MIPEX III results available at www.mipex.eu
Handbooks on Integration - for policy makers and practitioners
European network to promote debate on migration policies and monitor developments in national migration policies
Supplier Diversity Europe is establishing best-in class supply chain development programmes in Europe
Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy in Europe
The series, edited by Jan Niessen and Elspeth Guild, is a venue for books on European immigration and asylum law and policies where academics, policy makers, law practitioners and others look to find detailed analysis of this dynamic field.
Implementation of European legal standards for anti-discrimination
Perspectives on migration, foreign relations and development
Influencing legislation on immigration and asylum through the EC Treaty and EU legislation
The European Journal of Migration and Law is a quarterly journal on migration law and policy with specific emphasis on the European Union, the Council of Europe and migration activities within the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Article 13: A new challenge for European Institutions
A study of Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty
The Charter of European political parties for a non-racist society appeals to the democratic political parties in the European Union to act responsibly concerning discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic or national origin, and religion. This applies both with respect to the parties’ own organisation and to their interaction with the outside world
Metropolis: An international forum for research and policy on migration and cities
At the request of the Council of Europe, MPG contributed to the Review of Community Relations policies, an initiative which developed into another project on Diversity and Cohesion, both of which were supported by series of Roundtables
The Starting Line Group was a coalition of more than 400 non-governmental actors, from across the European Union, active in the field of anti-discrimination
Your reliable source of news, policy and legal updates on migrants and refugees
