Vienna – ESI presentations: The EU in Wonderland - What's wrong in the European debate on borders, asylum, and refugees

ESI's Gerald Knaus was in Vienna for a series of meetings and presentations.

On 13 November, he gave a lecture at Kreisky Forum: "Die EU im Wunderland: Was läuft schief in der europäischen Debatte über Grenzen, Asyl und Flüchtlinge. Und was ist zu tun." on the challenges of European migration and asylum policy. He argued that reception conditions need to be improved, asylum procedures need to be fast and of high qualitiy standards, readmission needs to be more effective, and that there needs to be more resettlement of refugees.

In a workshop on "Europe's Futures - Workshop II: Democracy in a Tumultuous Europe" organised by Erste Stiftung on 14 November, Gerald gave the introductory remarks. The aim was to find ways to increase the effectiveness of policy advocacy. On the same day, he participated in a panel debate at Landesverteidigungsakademie on migration policy. In the evening, gave a lecture on the EU-Turkey agreement at the University of Vienna: "The European Union and Turkey - Cooperation and/or Conflicts?".

On 15 November, he had a meeting with diplomats from Southeastern Europe at the Hungarian embassy where he presented ESI proposals on migration policy.