Engaging on integration: MPG contributes to key events in Belgium and Spain

Over the past week, MPG actively contributed to advancing the dialogue on refugee and migrant integration in two key settings: Brussels and Girona.

On 20 June, MPG’s Integration Policy Analyst Dr Mojib Atal participated in the final conference of the EU-funded ReRoot project at the Royal Library of Belgium. ReRoot examined the role of informal arrival infrastructures in supporting refugee integration across receiving countries. In his intervention, Mojib highlighted how these informal structures often serve as vital “bridges” between newly arrived refugees and public institutions. By providing crucial linguistic assistance, administrative guidance, and insights into the social norms and values of host societies, these grassroots networks help build trust and facilitate smoother transitions into new communities.

Mojib emphasised that such informal mechanisms frequently succeed where formal systems may fall short. However, he underlined the need for tailored interventions to better align informal support with mainstream integration frameworks and to maximise their contribution to successful integration outcomes.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, MPG’s Head of Research, Dr Başak Yavçan, visited the Universitat de Girona in Spain, engaging with researchers, students, and migrant practitioners. During the visit, Başak presented several of MPG’s core projects and discussed current trends in European migration and integration policy. Particular attention was given to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), one of MPG’s flagship tools for evaluating integration policies across countries.

Using MIPEX as a comparative lens, Başak reflected on Spain’s integration framework and how it measures up to other European approaches. The discussions also focused on areas where further collaboration between academic research and practical policy work can foster better outcomes for migrants and refugees across Europe.

Want to learn more about MIPEX? Check out this short introduction.