September 28, 2016

If the Center for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the publication of the Joint Policy Study on Migrants and Refugees: Impact and Future Policies. Case studies from Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece.

The research represents the final output of a one-year project coordinated by the Strategy Center in the role of an advanced co-leader in partnership with EuroMeSCo (Euro-Mediterranean Study Committee) and IEMed (European Institute for the Mediterranean). The project is articulated within the Euro-Mediterranean Research and Policy Dialogue for Inclusive Policy-Making Processes and its dissemination through Participatory Action in the Network with the support of the European Union as the interested body and stakeholders in the research findings.

The research was conducted over a period of approximately 12 months starting in June 2015 and involved more European and Middle Eastern research institutions and universities resulting in joint studies now published under the EuroMesco Series Join the Policy Studies Series.

In particular, the scholars who actively participated in the project were affiliated with the Institute of European Studies (University of Malta), the Center for Economic Research on Mediterranean Countries (CREM) (Akdeniz University), the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), the European University Institute, IEMed.

The objective of the project was to provide policy-oriented research capable of publishing findings and findings that could scientifically support interested bodies and stakeholders in making their decisions. In detail, all actors agreed on the need to investigate migration flows in the Mediterranean region. Due to its direct communicative nature, the project has been expressed in a series of events and meetings aimed at promoting and exchanging observations and promoting mutual review between authors and potential interested bodies of European and Middle Eastern bodies. In December 2015 the project was presented and discussed at the European Commission.

In March 2016, the Center for Strategic Studies promoted local presentation in order to poetically publish the final findings to a local and larger audience consisting of stakeholders such as policy makers, journalists, NGO coordinators and academics.

(If necessary, this is the JPS summary)

The Common Policy study focuses on migrants and refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Spain and Italy and their situation in these Mediterranean transit and destination countries. Each chapter targets a specific case study using a policy-oriented approach and discusses possible future scenarios in each of the specific countries in the entire Mediterranean region. The first chapter examines specific patterns of migratory flows in the regions of interest by tracing the origins, motives, qualifications, intentions and life expectations of migrants in pursuit of their desire to move from their country of origin.

The second and third chapters present a socio-economic analysis of the impact of the Syrian crisis in terms of labor market challenges and future integration, respectively, in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Chapter Four takes into account the migration and emergency policies that Greece, Italy, and Spain face in managing the massive influx of migrants they receive on a daily basis.

The observed policy recommendations are outlined at the conclusion of the study in order to provide ready-to-use information to interested policy makers.

To download the study, click on the downloaded PDF file at the top of the right page