After almost ten years of debate, the EU adopted its new Pact on Migration and Asylum in spring 2024. The bundle of regulations and directives provides for procedures at the EU’s external borders for the first time: migrants without a chance of asylum can be prevented from travelling further and returned directly from border camps. Deportations to safe third countries are also possible. In addition, a new solidarity mechanism is in place that shares responsibility for receiving asylum seekers between EU external states and the other EU member states. However, member states can ‘buy out’ of this obligation by paying into an EU refugee fund or providing operational or technical support.

While some criticise the pact for enabling Europe to seal itself off and for not sufficiently guaranteeing the protection of human rights, others believe it does not go far enough to protect Europe from uncontrolled immigration and preserve achievements such as freedom of movement. What about the practical implementation of the pact? And are the measures in line with the right to asylum as recognised by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights? At the end of the politically heated super election and election year 2024, this Human Rights Talk seeks to take a differentiated look at the EU’s asylum and migration pact and its effects.

Welcome Notes

• Angelika Watzl, Secretary General, Austrian League of Human Rights

Keynote

• Anuscheh Farahat, Professor of Public Law, University of Vienna

Podiumsdiskussion

• Anuscheh Farahat, Professor of Public Law, University of Vienna
• Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz, Spokesperson and Expert on Asylum Law, Asylum Coordination Austria
• Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
• Adel-Naim Reyhani, Senior Researcher, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights
• Kathrin Stainer-Hämmerle, Professor of Political Science, University of Applied Sciences Carinthia

Audience Discussion

Chair

• Anna-Maria Wallner, Head of Debates & Podcast Producer, Die Presse

Followed by: Reception

Further information can be found in the download area. Participation is free of charge, but we kindly ask you to register by Tuesday, 26 November 2024, 12:00 noon.