migration

The Italian government, headed by Giorgia Meloni, is arguing with the courts over the transport of migrants detained in the Mediterranean Sea to Albania. Italy wants to process their asylum applications there. But a court in Rome ruled on Friday to return the first 12 refugees to the Apennine peninsula. It relied on an EU court ruling that has a Czech footprint. The Italian development complicates the efforts that the Czech government had hoped to make from the measure. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Novinky.cz.

Just two days after Italy sent the first refugees to its two migration centers built in Albania, a court in Rome ruled that they must return to Italy. It concluded that the migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt did not come from safe countries, as the migration authorities claim, and therefore did not meet the conditions for transfer to Albania. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČRo Plus.

The European Union seems to have turned the wheel in the area of migration in a direction that no one would have expected a few years ago. The issue has also dominated the European Council. Several Member State representatives agreed that we need to toughen up and come up with new solutions. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the main evening news broadcast on TV Nova.

The EU Summit started in Brussels this morning and one of its key points is to be further assistance for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky is in attendance and has presented a "victory plan" which includes strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities. A particularly heated discussion is expected around adjustments to EU migration and asylum policy. Shortly before the start of the summit, representatives of several countries, including the Czech Republic, were due to hold an emergency meeting to reconcile their positions in this area. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the current events on Czech Radio broadcast.

The European agency Frontex has released data on the number of migrants arriving in the European Union. This year, it recorded a third less migrants who have entered the Union illegally compared to last year. What are the reasons behind the decrease in migrant numbers? Did the failed agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda have an impact? Will the recently approved migration pact, which will come into effect in two years, also help? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for Novinky.cz.

Despite the rise in support for the far right in most countries, the direction of the EU will not fundamentally change. The People's Party maintains its position as the strongest faction and gains support from centrist parties. The victory of the extreme right in the elections signals the strengthening of conservative and populist parties. However, it is expected that key issues such as the environment and migration will remain on the agenda. The election result does not signify a radical change but serves as a signal to focus on voters favoring conservative and far-right parties. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the results for Seznam Zprávy.

Supporters of the new migration pact say the current situation is ineffective and only causes confusion. Critics of the new agreement, on the other hand, say the current status allows for greater flexibility in the processing of migration. But with whom do more voters agree? And do they believe in the security and protection brought by NATO membership? EUROPEUM Institute, in cooperation with the STEM agency, commissioned a survey, the results of which were presented to TN.cz by deputy director of EUROPEUM Viktor Daněk.

We invite you to a public podcast recording focusing on the discussion of changes in the Czech approach to refugees due to the Russian war in Ukraine. We will delve into shifts in Czech solidarity towards refugees and also discuss the new migration pact, its content, and significance.

Migration will be one of the main issues in the European Parliament elections. Experts say the newly approved migration pact will not save the European Union, but strengthening controls at the external border of the Schengen area would help. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the migration issue for the main evening broadcast on TV Nova.

We would like to invite you to a debate focusing on the discussion about changes in the Czech approach to refugees as a result of the Russian war in Ukraine. The event will take place on April 24, 2024, at 18:00 in Brno at the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, in room U41 (4th floor).

The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary met in Prague to discuss the war in Ukraine and the future direction of the Visegrad Group. According to Viktor Daňek, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, migration will be another possible common topic and Donald Tusk will become one of the most important politicians in Europe in the next years.

In light of the debates on the migration pact, which represents the next step in solving the migration issue, the Czech political scene is once again focusing on this topic. However, Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the head of the opposition ANO party Andrej Babiš criticize the agreement, despite their previous positions. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, spoke in the 5:59 podcast about the change in their opinions, the possible reasons that led to it, as well as the content of the pact itself.