A skilled route to protection highlighted in the European Migration and Asylum Pact

In September 2020 the European Commission released a new Pact on Migration and Asylum. By creating more safe and legal pathways for talented migrants, the Pact is positioning Europe to level up in the race for global talent. So what does it mean for refugees?

In April 2015, the world’s spotlight turned to the influx of refugees arriving on Europe's shores. Most travelled from Syria, but also Afghanistan, Iraq, countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other fragile states. Limited work rights in Jordan and Lebanon spurred many refugees to travel beyond the Middle East to seek asylum. Over the year, more than 1 million refugees arrived in Europe.

Europe’s response to these individuals and families spontaneously entering the continent was chaotic. Different countries had different asylum policies and stances about how to treat them. Once in the EU, the Schengen Agreement allowed migrants to travel over many borders undocumented. The Dublin Regulation determines that normally the first country an asylum seeker arrives in must process their application, which put significant pressure on southern European countries, especially Greece, Italy and Malta.

As the number of people increased, these countries ignored the Dublin rule and waved through refugees who then made their way to northern Europe. In response, Germany welcomed the refugees, while other countries, notably Hungary and Poland, opposed the “refugee influx”. The failure of the EU members to agree a common policy led to the pact between Germany and Turkey to accommodate migrants in Turkey at EU expense. The year showcased the flaws in Europe's asylum system and often had tragic results. 

Now in 2020, the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact comes at a time when nearly 80 million people are displaced in the world - the highest number of displaced people on record.

It is predicted this number is only going to rise as more people are displaced due to climate change and increasing resource-based conflict. While our media focuses on migrants risking their lives to reach Europe, almost 90% of the world’s displaced people are in developing countries that are themselves struggling economically and often restrict refugees' work rights. These struggles have only been amplified by Covid-19.

A fire at Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos in September highlighted the plight of refugees in the EU. Desperate living conditions in this camp, and so many others in Europe, are compounded by lengthy asylum applications, difficulties for refugees to access rights and unsanitary living conditions that are now endured during the pandemic. 

It is clear that the EU’s refugee system is in need of an overhaul. The proposed EU Migration and Asylum Pact aims to be a fresh start that will replace the Dublin Regulation. Through “mandatory solidarity”, the Pact seeks to share the responsibility of migrants throughout Europe. Member states will have “flexible” options for the number of migrants they take. States who do not want to take on migrants can instead provide financial and logistical support to countries first reached by migrants, such as Italy and Greece. 

Importantly, the Pact also recognises that Europe must offer up more legal pathways in order to remain a globally connected continent and reduce the pressures that result in asylum seekers pursuing irregular migration routes and dangerous journeys.

The Pact commits to a range of measures to attract migrant talent and allocates EU funding to support refugees to access complementary pathways into Europe, including work-related schemes. This is an unprecedented opportunity to build more accessible skilled pathways into Europe for displaced people. 

Covid-19 has further exposed the vital roles that immigrants play in Europe's workforce, particularly in healthcare and food production.

Acknowledging that Europe is falling behind Australia, the US and Canada in hiring from a global talent pool, and that as Europe’s population is growing older skills shortages will increase, the Pact aims to increase labour mobility to the EU. A new Skills and Talent Package set out in the Pact hopes to achieve this by:

• Creating an EU Talent Pool: 
  To match EU employers to migrant workers wanting to move to the EU.

• Revising the Long-term Residence Directive: 
  To strengthen the rights to move and work in different EU states for people living in the EU.

• Revising the Single Permit Directive:
  To simplify the process for lower and medium skilled migrants to work in the EU.

• Reforming the EU Blue Card Directive:
  To attract highly skilled people wanted in different sectors.

Through Talent Partnerships, the Pact also seeks to create a network of skilled migrants, employers, social partners, and training and education opportunities to help fill labour demands in the EU. Financial support will be provided for work and training mobility schemes.

How can we ensure that refugees and displaced people are included in these policy reforms? 

Policymakers must recognise that there are hundreds of thousands of skilled and talented individuals among large refugee populations. They ought to have access to skilled migration pathways into the EU and elsewhere - but the reality is they are often locked out of these migration pathways because of administrative and policy barriers (such as the requirement of a passport, rigid requirements for documentation of qualifications and work history, and even having to prove they have a safe country to return home to). 

Already Australia, Canada and the UK are looking at ways to address these sorts of barriers in their skilled migration systems. The EU too will need to address these barriers in order to design a skilled migration system that is accessible to refugees.

While attracting new talent from abroad, the Pact also emphasises the importance of aiding their integration into local communities. Promisingly, the Pact encourages member states to help refugees and migrants integrate using local volunteers through Community Sponsorship models, in a similar way to our partners Reset in the UK.

Encouraged by the Pact, TBB is exploring ways to expand employment and skilled migration opportunities for refugees in the EU.  

If you are in Europe and interested in supporting this expansion please contact us at info@talentbeyondboundaries.org.