Programme

This panel explores whether current migration policies and governance arrangements are fit for an increasingly uncertain and complex world. Ministers discuss how geopolitical developments and domestic political expectations shape migration priorities, how governments can reconcile competing demands such as migration control, international protection, and labour-market needs, and where difficult trade-offs remain. They consider how to make migration policies more effective, sustainable, and responsive to future challenges.

Countries across wider Europe face interconnected migration challenges, yet their geographical positions, migration dynamics, and national priorities differ considerably. Armenia, Norway, North Macedonia, and Portugal offer distinct perspectives in this session, exploring how these differing realities influence national priorities, where common interests emerge, and how European migration cooperation can accommodate different national needs.

Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction will depend in part on how well it can rebuild and mobilise its human capital in the face of the economic and demographic challenges arising from displacement. Against this backdrop, this panel examines how investment, labour market policies, skills development, and international partnerships can help rebuild the workforce, bolster economic resilience, and lay the groundwork needed for sustainable recovery and long-term growth.

Austria and Germany share many migration policy priorities while navigating distinct national interests and political expectations. As the EU enters a new phase with the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, this session examines how national decisions, bilateral cooperation, European frameworks, and global partnerships can be better aligned to make migration governance more coherent and effective.

Hosted by the Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Ludwig

Welcome remarks by Bettina Emmerling, Deputy Mayor and Executive City Councillor of Vienna, and Omar Al-Rawi, Member of the Municipal Council and Provincial Parliament of Vienna

Europe’s external borders face an ever more complex mix of security considerations, mobility dynamics, and protection responsibilities. Geopolitical developments, cross-border crime, hybrid threats, technological change, and shifting migration routes are transforming this landscape and call for stronger foresight and preparedness. In this armchair conversation, speakers address how EU agencies, Member States, and partner countries can strengthen operational readiness, cooperation, and resilience to better anticipate and respond to emerging challenges.

Migration policy does not exist in a vacuum. Geopolitical rivalry, economic concerns, and regional conflicts all influence how states manage mobility and engage with partners. Drawing on his extensive reporting across Europe, the United States, and China, David Rennie unpacks the political calculations and key actors at play and what world order may emerge to replace a crumbling status quo.

Rwanda’s approach to migration spans refugee protection and inclusion, regional mobility, and international cooperation. This conversation explores Rwanda’s experience in responding to displacement, its approach to facilitating mobility within Africa and beyond, and its evolving international cooperation, including through the Emergency Transit Mechanism and cooperation with European countries on migration management and return.

Europe has stepped up its engagement with India on labour mobility, reflecting growing interest in developing structured, skills-based pathways that meet labour market needs while supporting broader cooperation. This conversation puts India’s perspective as a key partner at the centre, weighing how cooperation between Europe and India can deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for origin and destination countries, as well as for migrants themselves.

Political, economic, and demographic pressures are changing where labour is needed and where workers are moving to, across both established and emerging destinations, with knock-on effects for labour markets, skills development strategies, and migration governance. This panel breaks down how such forces are influencing intraregional labour mobility, labour migration policies, and skills gaps across different regions and globally.

Whole-of-route approaches are increasingly promoted as a response to mixed movements, yet translating shared commitments into practical action remains complex. This discussion traces how the concept is moving from broad political ambition to operational reality, and highlights the role of migration dialogues and international organisations in fostering cooperation, building trust, and supporting joint responses among countries of origin, transit, and destination.

Following the migration and asylum reform, the EU and its Member States are turning their attention to complementing existing migration governance architecture with policy proposals and operational measures that serve their evolving vision. In this forward-looking exchange, Beate Gminder and Susanne Raab reflect on persisting and emerging migration challenges and how policy ambitions, operational priorities, and financial resources can come together to craft a firmer, more resilient and responsive European migration system.