MPG in the Media

30 July 2024 | Setry (Ukraine)

In an interview for Sestry, a support network for Ukrainian women displaced by the war, MPG’s Head of Research Başak Yavcan, noted that the influx of Ukrainian refugees has not been termed a crisis by the EU due to political involvement, perceived cultural similarity, and effective organisational responses. She highlighted that effective integration policies foster positive attitudes towards refugees, and Ukrainians have generally been well-received, partly because of these policies.

 

24 August 2024 – YLE | AREENA Podcast (Finland)

MPG featured in the podcast of the Finnish Public Service Media Company AREENA (between 10:35-17:10). As Finland is discussing new citizenship test, MPG was asked to comment on on citizenship requirements and the infrastructure required to ensure equal access to language courses or integration courses around Europe. MPG’s head of research Başak Yavcan provided an overview of language skill requirements in various European countries and highlighted that in some cases the high threshold for language tests and lack of infrastructure for language learning create obstacles for naturalisation and obtaining citizenship. She also stressed that naturalisation/obtaining citizenship significantly increase migrant’s integration within societies. Citizenship is an important step towards migrants’ integration, therefore there should be a balanced manner in regards language and naturalisation requirements to enable migrants’ successful integration.

 

2 September 2024 | Habertürk TV (Turkey)

MPG’s Head of Research, Başak Yavcan, was interviewed by Habertürk, a prominent Turkish news outlet, to discuss the potential impact of recent terrorist attacks in Germany on migration, asylum, and border policies. Yavcan explored how such events may influence public perceptions and policymaking, often leading to harm in the protection of asylum seekers’ and migrants’ rights in Europe.

 

6 September 2024 – Polito Europe | Brussels Playbook

MPG’s reports “Unpacking Structural and Institutional Racism in 8 EU Member States: Key Issues and Policy Recommendations” featured in the Politico Europe’s Brussels Playbook which made the following highlights:

1. Health care, education and housing are the sectors where structural racism hits hardest. Roma, Black people and Muslims are most affected, per the report. In 2018, a scandal around the Netherlands’ childcare benefitsrevealed a biased algorithm that wrongly accused many low-income parents — especially those from ethnic minorities — of fraud; some 70 percent of victims were from migrant families. To this day, the Dutch government hasn’t taken meaningful action to address this issue, said Carmine Conte, the think tank’s legal policy expert.
2. The “invisible minority”:Anti-Asian racism is a growing problem since the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s especially hard to track. “Some Asian groups tend to minimise microaggressions and do not like to assume the role of victims,” said Conte. Antisemitic discrimination also tends to be underreported.
3. There are bright spots: Romania is taking steps to level the playing field for Roma students by implementing initiativesthat give them a shot at reserved spots in high schools and universities. Greece is setting aside 0.5 percent of university slots specifically for Muslim minority students, and working on programsto help them integrate into society while honoring their cultural backgrounds.
4. Taking responsibility:Launching campaigns and workshops where these sensitive topics can be discussed would help empower affected communities, and foster discussions in society in general. The report also calls for governments to acknowledge past wrongs, apologize (!) and work “towards reconciliation and healing.”

 

7 September | elDiario.es (Spain)

Following the publications of MPG’s report “Unpacking Structural and Institutional Racism in 8 EU Member States: Key Issues and Policy Recommendations”, a Spanish newspaper dedicated an article to the issue of racism in which it looked at the Spanish experience tacking racism in the European context. Carmine Conte, MPG’s Senior Legal Policy Analyst was interviewed by the newspaper: “Our research indicates that there are various forms of structural and institutional racism at the national level perpetrated by the State and public institutions. The main laws, regulations and procedures in all eight countries ignore the needs of marginalised and/or racial and ethnic minorities and contribute to fostering structural and institutional racism.”

 

7 September | TopBuzzTimes

TopBuzzTimes covers the publications oif MPG’s report “Unpacking Structural and Institutional Racism in 8 EU Member States: Key Issues and Policy Recommendations” and looks at the situation in Spain in the European context. The article quotes Carmina Conte, MPG’s Senior Legal Policy Analyst: “Racism is rooted in the structure and policies of our society. It is a common and general problem. In Spain, we have seen many cases of structural racism in different areas, such as housing, employment, etc.”

 

11 September 2024 | Habertürk TV (Turkey)

MPG’s Head of Research, Başak Yavcan, discussed migration as a key issue in global political discourse, highlighted by Germany’s decision to suspend the Schengen agreement and begin passport checks, as well as Trump’s promise of mass deportations if re-elected. In an interview with Habertürk, Yavcan analysed how such measures could shape migration policies, public opinion, and the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants in Europe and beyond.

 

11 September 2024 | AA (Turkey)

MPG’s Head of Research, Başak Yavcan, shared her insights with AA, a state-run news agency in Turkey, on the current migration debate in Europe. The discussion was ignited by Hungary’s recent threat to send migrants to Brussels in defiance of EU migration policies and Germany’s decision to implement border controls, following the Solingen terrorist attack. Yavcan highlighted the concerning trend of some member states adopting policies that marginalize migrants, which undermines the integration of communities that already consider the EU their second home.

 

14 September 2024 | Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark)

MPG’s Senior Legal Policy Analyst Carmine Conte was interviewed and quotes in an article by the Danish daily Kristeligt Dagblad [available for paid viewers only] on comparative asylum and migration policies in the EU. Commenting on a restrictive Danish asylum model, Carmine Conte said:  “Denmark is actively pushing to get other countries to follow a restrictive course. And it clearly has an effect when a rich Scandinavian country, known for freedom and openness to the world, takes these positions. Denmark has been a leader in normalising the strict line, including transferring asylum processing to countries outside the EU.”

 

17 September 2024 | TRT World (Turkey)

MPG’s Head of Research Başak Yavcan takes part in the “Strait Talk” programme and comments on the recent election’s victories of the far-right parties in Germany.