June 2026 – MPG in the media

Our focus this month

As the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into force on 12 June, MPG contributed to the ongoing international debate on the topic with independent, evidence-based analysis.

11 June | Anadolu Agency | Uzmanlar, AB’nin göçle mücadele için planladığı “geri gönderme merkezleri”nin risklerine karşı uyardı | Experts have warned of the risks of the “repatriation centers” planned by the EU to combat migration

 MPG Head of Research Dr Başak Yavçan and Senior Legal Policy Analyst Dr Carmine Conte gave an exclusive interview to the Turkish Anadolu Agency. They stressed that the EU can manage migration and returns more effectively, but only through systems that are transparent, rights-based, and built on true international cooperation and post-return support. But instead, the pact prioritises detention, returns and externalisation with limited monitoring, weakening also the EU’s foreign policy power. To learn why, read the full interview.

15 June | The Parliament | The migration pact is here. But the EU isn’t ready

Our Head of Research Basak Yavcan also spoke to The Parliament about what the entry into application of the pact means in practice. Major readiness gaps remain, and safeguards, systems and institutions meant to make the pact work are still missing. Read the full article to see how prepared different EU countries are.

Other examples of MPG covered in the media

23 June | Deutsche Welle (DW) Pasto | Interview for the live TV programme Reconciliation (video in Pasto)

In an interview with DW Pashto, our Integration Policy Analyst Dr Atal commented on the recent efforts by Germany and other EU countries to return Afghan refugees. He emphasised that conditions in Afghanistan remain unsuitable for the safe return of many, and stressed that repatriation efforts must not undermine the principle of non-refoulement, especially as many refugees have invested significant time and resources in rebuilding their lives in host countries, including Germany.

28 June | Augsburder Allgemeine | Auswandern: In diesen Ländern bekommt man leicht die Staatsbürgerschaft [Emigration: In these countries it is easy to obtain citizenship]

The article notes that many Germans migrate abroad each year, and looks at the regimes for obtaining citizenship in different countries. It includes data from our Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) as well as other sources.

17 June | Il Nord Est | Slovena, Janša toglie il voto agli stranieri extra Ue per le amministrative[Slovenia, Janša takes away the vote from non-EU foreigners for administrative]

The article reports on Slovenia’s new law limiting non-EU permanent residents’ local voting rights, citing also data from our New Europeans Initiative on how this would affect migrants.

13 June | Love in Malta | ConnACT’s Story Pot Brings Cultures To The Table In Ħġejjeġ

This article in a Maltese culture news outlet promotes a cooking session led by migrant community representatives which creates an opportunity for attendees to learn new recipes, exchange experiences and engage with people from different cultural backgrounds. The session is part of the Connecting through Adult Community Training (ConnACT) project of which MPG is part.

2 June | Nikkei | 社説 ヘイトスピーチ抑止へ実効ある対策を [Editorial: Effective measures to deter hate speech

Marking the 10-year anniversary of the Japanese Hate Speech Elimination Act, this editorial calls for more effective measures to deter hate speech. It cites also evidence from our Immigration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and compares Japan’s results in the anti-discrimination dimension to that of other G7 countries