Anti-Smuggling Policies and their Intersection with Humanitarian Assistance and Social Trust

Lead Research Organisation: Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Sch of Law

Abstract

The Project 'Anti-Smuggling Policies and Their Intersection with Humanitarian Assistance and Social Trust' examines from a cross-disciplinary (sociology of law) perspective EU anti-smuggling laws, polices and operational practices and their social effects over the provision of humanitarian assistance by NGOs and citizen volunteers.
Smuggling of human beings has become a key priority action in the wider EU policy agenda on transnational organized crime. The ongoing refugee crisis has brought policies against migrant smuggling to the fore of EU and national agendas; and unprecedented budgets are being dedicated to this arena by countries including the UK. Little attention has been paid however to the extent to which current EU actors' policies and practices, which increasingly merge policing, criminal justice and military approaches, are 'fit for purpose' in countering smuggling and their effects on wider trust-based relations in society.
More knowledge and facts-based policies are needed as regards the effects of criminalisation of facilitation of entrance and residence on irregular immigrants and asylum-seekers and on the work of NGOs and volunteers, and the extent to which alternative (bottom up) and multidisciplinary strategies and approaches are better suited to effectively address the smuggling phenomenon without undermining fundamental rights and social trust-based relations in the EU.
This Project aims at precisely developing this knowledge by mapping the field of 'anti-smuggling policy' agencies and their priorities, approaches and activities, in the production of knowledge at EU levels. It will provide a bridge between current EU policies and actors and the experiences, views and testimonies of civil society organisations and volunteers. This will allow for a better understanding of the scope, nature and effects (and effectiveness) of current EU policy approaches and priorities.
The Research Group that has been designed for implementing the project is strongly suited to ensure the highest quality and academic excellence in the research outputs, as well as linking the research results to public policy debates with relevant EU and national policy makers, law enforcement practitioners and civil society representatives. A new Partnership has been established for the purposes of this project composed by Queen Mary London University, CEPS and PICUM. This will ensure a comprehensive coverage of the project objectives and the success of the expected results. CEPS will guarantee the policy relevance and impact of the project results. PICUM will play a decisive role in securing the contributions and involvement of EU and national civil society organisations.
The associated risks of policies that seek to tackle transnational crime upon both victims of crime and on host societies is an issue that is gaining increasing attention in scholarship Yet, to date, the impact of anti-smuggling laws and policies on the stakeholders seeking to assist asylum seekers and migrants, including ordinary citizens, remains a hidden narrative. This proposal seeks to rectify this by exploring the impact of transnational anti-smuggling measures on humanitarian assistance and trust-based relations in society. It seeks to make a highly original and timely contribution towards more effective and fundamental rights-compliant policies countering the smuggling in the European Union (EU). The 2015-2016 'refugee crisis' has illustrated the challenges of effectively responding to the phenomenon of smuggling and of fighting against the exploitation of asylum seekers. A key dilemma concerns the need to ensure a clear differentiation between exploitative smugglers and humanitarian actors. The refugee crisis has also shown the lack of effective responses by some national authorities. This has brought many new humanitarian actors into the field; from lifesaving teams to new non-governmental organisations and volunteers.

Planned Impact

This project will ensure that the beneficiaries extend beyond the academic communities and cover key EU and national policy makers and law enforcement, border and defence practitioners engages in different ways and forms in anti-smuggling policies. The Project will engage in a structured policy dialogue with these communities in an attempt to bridge the research results to policy relevant discussions on ways to counter smuggling in the EU.
The role and reach of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, a leading think tank, in the main network, will facilitate extending the scope of beneficiaries towards policymaking worlds. CEPS will organize a Policy Makers and Practitioners Focus Group for the purposes of this project which will combine the participation of EU policy makers' representatives of European institutions and EU Agencies. During the course of the project the Focus Group will meet once in Brussels to discuss the policy dilemmas inherent to criminalisation of smuggling and the provision of humanitarian assistance, and the feasibility of alternative approaches in countering smuggling. CEPS will also produce a Policy Brief presenting the policy relevant findings of the project and a set of policy recommendations addressed to EU and national policy makers.
Civil society organisations and NGOs representatives will also benefit from this action. They will be centrally involved in feeding their views and experiences and knowledge to feed future public policies on anti-smuggling. They will be able to utilize and use the project activities and results in their advocacy work. The project will also provide key insights for the development of joint campaigns and actions for more humanitarian and human rights based policy responses in the EU.
The involvement of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) as one of the partners will facilitate reaching out to the right actors and practitioners on the ground. PICUM has 149 member organisations and more than a 100 PICUM supporters who are involved in humanitarian activities concerning undocumented migrants or persons that work in policy, research and simply want to contribute to the mission of PICUM. The establishment of the Web-based source of stories and testimonies of NGOs and individuals facing various forms of criminalisation will play a crucial role in bringing on-the-ground evidence on the intended and unintended effects of anti-smuggling policies.
The project will also implement a targeted dissemination strategy of its activities as well as preliminary and final results. All the project results will be widely disseminated among the partners' contacts. The publication of the research outputs in academic venues will facilitate reaching out to wide inter-disciplinary academic communities. CEPS will guarantee that the results reach relevant policy makers. Social media tools will be particularly used to communicate progress results and activities. PICUM will facilitate the dissemination of the results across NGOs and civil society organisations.
For more information refer to https://www.ceps.eu/research-areas/rights
For more information see http://picum.org/en/about-us/people/members/
 
Title Contribution to dissemination of the short film - Salam's Odyssey 
Description During the policy meeting organized on the 22 November 2017 by CEPS in cooperation with QMUL and PICUM at the European Parliament, the attendants had the opportunity to hear  in person, a testimony of Mr. Salam Aldeen, a founder of Team Humanity, who was arrested in Lesvos island, while he was conducting Search and Rescue activities. Furthermore, the preview of the short movie 'Salam's Odyssey'. The preview of the short movie can bee seen at: https://deref-web-02.de/mail/client/pTSIAu_IKnQ/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F242226954 (password: H&P1997). It has been also posted at: https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTeamHumanityDK%2Fposts%2F937927966376214&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=post. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact The dissemination of the short film and testimony of Mr Salam Aldeen offered the audience with a visual and realistic picture of the situation Mr Aldeen faced in Greece while carrying out Search and Rescue activities. Its display in front of an EU policy making audience provoke certain sensibility to the situation and the need to tackle the measures and policies dealing on anti-smuggling and humanitarian assistance. 
 
Title Facebook web-streaming: Launch of the Final Report & Testimonies 'Effects of EU's Anti-Smuggling Policies on Civil Society Actors' 
Description Justice and Home Affairs Section at CEPS, in cooperation with MEP Jean Lambert organised a public discussion on the "Effects of EU's anti-smuggling policies on civil society actors" on 22 of November, 2017 at the European Parliament, in Brussels.   This event aimed to present findings of the final report of the one year research project led by the Queen Mary University London and CEPS on "Anti-Smuggling Policies and their Intersection with Humanitarian Assistance and Social Trust" and to launch of the web-page of testimonies of civil society actors gathered by PICUM & CEPS, in four countries covered -  Greece, Hungary, Italy and  the UK.    Afterwards the interactive discussion followed with all the relevant stakeholders attending the event.  The event counted with the participation of MEPs, and representatives from EU agencies, civil society, international organisations and media.  The meeting was online streamed in order to watch the discussion via the public Facebook profile of MEP Jean Lambert. Furthermore, the PICUM colleagues facilitated the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #HelpIsNoCrime. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact The web streaming gathered more than 2.6K views, while the event engaged with MEPs and representatives from key EU agencies (such as Frontex and EASO), border coast guards and CSOs and NGOs (such as UNHCR, Red Cross, Medecins sans Frontiers, Amnesty International and Caritas). 
URL https://www.facebook.com/GreenJeanMEP/videos/10156838831093306/?fref=mentions
 
Description 'Migrant smuggling' has been framed as a top political priority for the EU in the European Migration Agenda and in response to the 2015-2017 'European Refugee Humanitarian Crisis'. The implementation of this policy raises important ethical, legal and practical challenges in the implementation phase for national border and judicial practitioners, particularly at times of applying and maintain traditional criminal justice standards and guarantees.
The 2002 EUs Facilitators Package does not require a 'Financial or other Material Benefit' requirement for 'migrant smuggling' to be considered a crime. The Package falls short of existing UN standards under the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants. EU law allows Member States to keep the broad definition of smuggling, where the financial benefit requirement is not part of the base crime, but only as aggravating circumstance. For example, the Facilitation of Entry is criminal in Italy, Greece, the UK and Hungary and in majority of EU Member States, even without intent to gain profit.
Measuring the effects of EU anti-smuggling laws and policies on civil society actors (CSAs) cannot be limited to a 'criminalisation' or the number of prosecutions and sentencing. Our research demonstrates the existence of three faces or modalities of 'policing the mobility society' in the EU Member States under investigation: First, intimidation and suspicion, second, disciplining and third, formal criminalisation.
CSAs have witnessed an increase in policing of their activities since 2015, which has influenced their operational spaces negatively. Experiences of increased proximity of policing of humanitarian actors have led organisations and individuals to change and adapt their practices and services towards immigrants and asylum seekers, and face increasing restrictions and requirements to conduct their activities.
The nature of civil society actors in the EU has changed during the European Refugee Humanitarian Crisis. Whereas some civil society actors became more self-restrained due to a potential negative images, more restrictive access to funding supporting their work or even less safety for their personnel, others became more active in advocacy at national, EU and international levels.
Suspicion and accusations of CSAs is negatively impacting social trust. Experiences of intimidation, suspicion and disciplining reported in this research project ultimately led to mistrust in criminal justice and law enforcement system and actors. The chilling effect and stigmatization of non-governmental actors has been also confirmed by the research. Some civil society actors have constrained themselves in monitoring human rights in the implementation phases of immigration management policies and when playing a critical role in upholding democratic rule of law standards.
Finally, there is surprisingly low number of prosecutions of human smugglers despite the key political priority given to this phenomenon both at EU and domestic levels. There are a number of legal obstacles which are inherent to any cross-border judicial cooperation, such as questions of jurisdiction and the gathering of evidence. National and EU judicial practitioners expressed that a traditional criminal justice approach in countering human smuggling has not been guaranteed. Instead national and EU priorities have focused on a 'preventive justice' approach focused on gathering information which cannot always be used as 'evidence' before independent courts.
Exploitation Route We envisage the following outcomes be taken by EU and national policy makers as well as civil society:
• EU Facilitators Package and national criminal law of Greece, Hungary, Italy and the UK should be brought back line with UN standards. The criterion of 'financial gain or other material benefit' should be a requirement to establish a base crime both in terms of facilitation of entry/transit and stay across the EU. EU and national law should include an obligatory prohibition of criminalisation of humanitarian actors.
• The work of EU agencies should be focused on a criminal justice-led approach in countering 'migrant smuggling', instead of 'preventative policing' approach. Priority should be given to developing Joint Investigation Teams which are compatible with the standards laid down in the European Investigation Order.
• EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA and other EU-led Operations should be subject of a report by the European Court of Auditors and European Ombudsman so as to evaluate the value added and efficiency & effectiveness in addressing 'migrant smuggling' are in line with EU's fundamental rights.
• The Consultative Forums of EASO and Frontex should be granted more independence and competences to monitor activities of these EU's agencies and respective national authorities.
• EU should develop Guidelines for Implementing Firewalls between civil society and law enforcement which guarantees humanitarian assistance and access to justice. This could broaden understanding of 'Firewalls' as proposed in the UN Global Compact for Migration.
• National practitioners, in particular law enforcement and judicial authorities should uphold their professional ethics and to promote existing codes and guidelines.
• An EU Civil Society Shadow Reporting or Complaints Mechanism should feed into the assessment of EU Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Mechanism, and the work of EU Agencies in countering smuggling and migration/border management policies.
• The EU should establish a direct funding scheme for watchdog civil society monitoring human rights by migrants and refugees and to monitor their treatment by relevant national and EU agencies in the context of border controls/surveillance and expulsions.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
URL http://picum.org/Documents/Others/ESCR_Project_Main_Findings_Report.pdf
 
Description Narrative Report update as of March 2021 (see added section below): March 2018 - March 2019 The research findings of the wide-spread nature of policing of humanitarianism and the articulations of the role and responsibility of the EU laws and policies emerged as a new impact in the period from March 2018 until March 2019. The theoretical framework capturing the modalities of policing and empiric evidence illustrating escalation from suspicion, harassment, intimidation and disciplining to formal prosecutions of civil society actors have played a role in the discussions among the EU level decision-makers. Our research findings were further disseminated in the peer-reviewed academic article "Policing the mobility society: the effects of EU anti-migrant smuggling policies on humanitarianism" (https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMBS.2018.093912) that has been accessible for non-academic audiences and the book "Policing Humanitarianism EU Policies Against Human Smuggling and their Impact on Civil Society" that was published in December 2018 (here: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/policing-humanitarianism-9781509922994/#). The launch event is foreseen on the 22nd of April, 2019 in London, Queen Mary University. Also, OSCE ODIHR has also invited one of the co-authors to present the research findings a the conference in Zagreb, Croatia. The research findings have fed into two important research projects addressing EU policymakers: Firstly, study, called "Fit for purpose? The Facilitation Directive and the criminalisation of humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants: the update study" was commissioned to CEPS by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PETI) (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/608838/IPOL_STU(2018)608838_EN.pdf). The interim findings of this study has been presented at the European Parliament's PETI and LIBE Committees on several occasions (see below). Secondly, the ESRC research has informed our work ReSOMA on the topic of "Crackdown on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants". ReSOMA is the European Union-funded Horizon 2020 project, the abbreviation stands for - Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum. We have put the topic of 'crackdown on the agenda' because of the evidence in the ESRC project. The ReSOMA project further disseminated the ESRC research findings and promoted our initial publications, and our analysis has influenced discussions at the EU level. For example, On the basis of this discussion brief on 'Crackdown on NGO's' we held an Ideas Lab session in February 2019, ResOMA Taskforce in November 2018 and Transnational Feedback Meeting with academics, criminalised individuals, their lawyers, an advocacy organisation in October 2018. Two latter events the Synthetic Report has been devised. See for example the discussion brief - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. In addition, on the basis of ESRC funded field research, we were invited to meet the European Court of Auditors to present their findings in the context of the ongoing audit into hot-spots on 21 of March 2019. The ESRC research findings, therefore, had a societal impact on improved understanding of the risks due to the vagueness of the legal concept when it lands at a highly politicised context and gets re-framed from criminal justice tool to migration management tool. The empiric evidence has supported findings that the effectiveness of criminal justice systems and protection of civil society free space and mandate are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing. The EU Better Regulation Guidelines are clear on the point that EU action or funding can be regarded as effective if it is fundamental rights compliant. Our research suggests that when there are 'firewalls' between civil society actors and law enforcement are installed (and civil society is not risking to be co-opted for the migration management purposes) - both actors can build trust and work together in reporting and preventing crime. The empiric evidence supported finding that when civil society actors providing basic services are removed from the scene - this provides more opportunities for migrant smugglers to profit from the vulnerabilities of migrants. However, when space of civil society actors is protected, not only it decreases the opportunities for criminal networks but also increases the accountability (as they are undertaking the vital fundamental rights watch-dog function) on how national or EU agencies are conducting policies in the area for asylum reception conditions, migration management and border controls. The research, therefore, has made a strong case for the European policymakers to amend the Facilitators Package, as to create more legal certainty at the EU level and also to move from from 'criminalisation of solidarity' to the protection of civil society free space and from restrictive emergency-driven migration policies towards more holistic and evidence-based long term solutions. The European Commission officials, in particular, those involved in Facilitators Package REFIT exercise were invited in the CEPS Ideas Lab in February 2017 and in September 2017 - the closed-door discussion at CEPS. Commission's REFIT exercise concluded that there was a lack of evidence on why and how Facilitators' Package is creating legal uncertainty and leading to the criminalisation of civil society actors. The current research has gathered and substantiated such evidence via 89 interviews, focus group discussion with civil society and most importantly testimonies gathered via online survey answered by 114 respondents. European Commission. On 15 December 2017 European Commission has convoked a workshop on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework - the research findings were briefly presented as the priority to combat smuggling was seen as potentially endangering Civil Society Actors receiving funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to provide assistance or services. Also, on 3rd of May, 2018 European Commission, DG HOME-C1 Unit responsible for the implementation of the Facilitators' Package has convoked a group of leading experts and practitioners for a closed-door discussion. The European Commission was keen to learn from our findings presented on these occasions - the major obstacle being on what gets accepted as institutionalised and systemic forms of policing of humanitarianism going beyond convictions of humanitarian actors. The discussion focused on the ways to monitor and prevent such instances. ReSOMA is convoking another meeting with European Commission on 9 of April 2019 to discuss the unaddressed issues emerging from the empiric research - such as broader policing phenomenon. Members of the European Parliament during the launch event of the main findings in November 2017 have acknowledged the contribution of this research in rebutting the above-mentioned REFIT conclusion and providing the evidence for the need of legislative change at EU level as to reinstate financial and other material benefit requirement in the Facilitators' Package (Directive 2002/90/EC, Article 1.1.) and to make obligatory the humanitarian exemption clause for the Member State (Directive 2002/90/EC, Article 1.2.). The research promoted critical reflection among EU policymakers, EU and national practitioners and civil society on EU's political prioritization of combating migrant smuggling (https://www.ceps.eu/sites/default/files/JHA%20IL%20Excerpt.pdf). Later the European Parliament shifted the burden of proof on - "what should not be criminalised?" from the initial question of the European Commission "what is not genuine humanitarian assistance?" (See European Parliament resolution of 5 July 2018 on guidelines for the Member States to prevent humanitarian assistance from being criminalised (2018/2769(RSP)) - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2018-0314+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN?uage=EN). In light of the study "Fit for purpose? The Facilitation Directive and the criminalisation of humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants: the 2018 update" we have presented some of the empiric findings for two of the European Parliament Committees: 1. Presentation at the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) public hearing on 27 September 2018 on "The Implementation of the Facilitation Directive and humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants" (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20180927-1500-COMMITTEE-LIBE) 2. Presentation at the European Parliaments' Committee on Petitions (PETI) meeting on 21 November, 2018 (www.europarl.europa.eu, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20181121-1430-COMMITTEE-PETI). The study using the empiric research also fed into the discussion on 2nd of April, 2019 - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20190402-0900-COMMITTEE-LIBE. The impact was achieved via closed door-discussion and CEPS Ideas Lab dedicated session, where EU and national officials representing judicial and law enforcement authorities as well as border and coast guard communities were critically reflecting anti-smuggling policies as an overarching political priority. The discussions showed that this should not, however, be a goal in itself without addressing the underlying causes and unintended consequences of migrant smuggling. A similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision-makers and practitioners had the opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy. The EU policymakers and national practitioners confirmed that drivers of smuggling should be better examined and addressed as geo-political and socio-economic and not criminal justice issues. In line with the arguments presented in the Global Compacts on Migration and on Refugees, alternative safe legal routes for both asylum seekers and other migrants to reach Europe should be developed. In particular, the question of Search-and-Rescue at sea should be resolved by launching the EU pro-active SAR mission and by allowing SAR NGOs to operate and by undertaking the mandatory EU relocation scheme for all the rescued persons. Another discussion with policymakers, practitioners and academia was organised on 24 of April 2018. It focused on on "The many faces of migrant smuggling: from crime to a humanitarian act". The event was organised in cooperation with the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) of the European University Institute (EUI) and PICUM. The event brought together two empiric research projects looking at the different facets of migrant smuggling (http://migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/Programme_Migrant-Smuggling-event_24April_Brussels.pdf). From a criminal justice perspective, cross-border crimes are to be investigated and prosecuted, while ensuring that humanitarian assistance to individuals is not hampered. The key question for the coming years is how EU anti-smuggling policies can move beyond the logic of the immediate responses to the so-called 'refugee crisis' and develop and implement evidence-based approaches that address the underlying causes and human costs of smuggling. National practitioners in the closed-door setting also confirmed the importance to uphold the integrity of national criminal justice systems. They also expressed that due to the political pressures from the EU and national levels criminal justice is increasingly used for the purposes of migration and border management. This leads to unrealistic expectations on what criminal justice cannot deliver - to control migration flows and leads to undermining the principles on which the criminal justice system is based as well as endangering societal trust in the criminal justice system. The research also pointed out at overly broad national framings of 'migrant smuggling' leading to the criminalisation of actions lacking criminal intent. The research methods increased EU and the national border and coast guard, law enforcement and judicial practitioners' critical understanding of their role in addressing smuggling and importance of professional ethics and guidelines. National practitioners highlighted their professional and ethical codes as a way to protect their activities from political pressures. For example, in the UK The Code for Crown Prosecutors' gives an option for prosecutors to drop cases on the basis of their public interest and evidential test. Such a test could be used more widely, replicated in the other Member States and at the EU level. National practitioners also became increasingly well-articulated about the opportunity costs on their other activities, i.e. on fighting other types of crime, where there is clear criminal intent, more evidence and greater possibilities to prosecute. The research process (particularly, focus group discussion with civil society actors in May 2017) and research findings had a visible impact on the advocacy strategies and the ways civil society actors have mobilised as to defend the humanitarian and human rights activities as well as the rights of refugees and other migrants ( see for example Testimonies Gathered by PICUM - http://picum.org/testimonies-people-share-stories-accused-intimidated-punished-helping-migrants/ ). Civil society became more aware and better articulated that not only the criminalisation but also suspicion, intimidation and disciplining have very negative effects on their activities - from undermining societal trust, limiting access to public funding to the difficulties in recruitment of volunteers and maintaining the staff. Civil society has internalized the expanded notion of 'firewalls' as not only between undocumented migrants and service providers but also between civil society actors and border/coast guard, law enforcement and judicial authorities as a key element for maintaining trust-based cooperation. This can in turn lead to increased likeliness of referring their clients to report criminal incidents. This was for example reflected by PICUM in the discussions on the Global Compacts for Migration (http://picum.org/firewall/ & CEPS Ideas Lab 2018, Session on Global Compacts). Civil Society acknowledged the ethical dilemmas in light of their dependence on public funding vis-a-vis being able to implement their monitoring and watch-dog function. In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. The research activities enabled the visibility and voices of those who were criminalised, disciplined and intimidated to give their testimonies and reach out to relevant EU actors. The research with the testimony gathering exercise, media monitoring as well as with the #HelpIsNoCrime (used in Twitter and Facebook) led to greater visibility of such cases and related initiatives such as #WelcomingEurope - European Citizens Initiative. The very concrete case of Aldeen Salam from Team Humanity, who will face trial in Greece on 7th of May, 2018 and his contribution to the discussion at the European Parliament can be mentioned as one of the examples, as MEPs who participated in the discussion promised to follow the court process. Salam Aldeen during discussion articulated that his case in light of research findings is a symptom of a wider societal issue in Europe and not only in Greece. He got encouraged to reach out to the EU policymakers, EU-wide networks for support and to call for EU-wide solutions. This case ended up in acquittal. In addition, later Salam Aldeen, Team Humanity Representative and Constantin Nestler, a medical doctor and volunteer for the Search and Rescue missions Jugend Rettet has been invited to provide their testimonies on 27 of September 2018. The last, but not the least, this gained a wider critical societal reflection as students were also introduced with the key findings in the UK (Queen Mary University London) in 2017 and in 2018, Paris (Science Po) and Belgium (University of Ghent). March 2019 - March 2020 Since the last submission, in the period between, 2019 March - 2020 March, a number of developments have been taking place within a frame of ReSOMA (H2020 project). This year focus has been on a more practical solutions - how to ensure judicial, administrative and democratic accountability. The policy options brief "How could strategic litigation prevent policing humanitarianism?" (http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/POB%20Strategic%20Litigation.pdf). The transnational feedback meeting organised on 4 October 2019 and Task Force on 8 of November 2019, further used the research findings and contacts. On the occasion of International Migrants Day, 18 December 2019 there was also a ReSOMA Transnational Launch Event organised and movie "Humanity on Trial" about Salam Aldeen projected in cooperation with PICUM. Subsequently, in January 2020 two ResOMA transnational launch events organised in Athens and Rome, that again relied on our ESRC research network and contacts. Research further fed into our involvement in EU-Mexico think tank dialogues: EU-Mexico Think Tanks Dialogue Initiative: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/mexico/73275/iniciativa-de-diálogos-de-think-tanks-méxico-unión-europea_es News story on the Third Dialogue: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/mexico/73273/tercer-encuentro-de-la-iniciativa-de-diálogo-entre-think-tanks-de-la-unión-europea-y-méxico_es. During this years edition of CEPS Ideas Labs on 5-6 March, 2020 the research findings have been brought into the discussions, In light of escalating violence against refugees and those who assist them at Greek-Turkish border. March 2020 - March 2021 Since our last update, in a period between March 2020 - March 2021 a number of publications and developments have been inspired by the research conducted with the ESRC grant, namely: We would like to add to our narrative report: 1. A peer reviewed academic article - Picking 'Low-Hanging Fruit' While the Orchard Burns: the Costs of Policing Humanitarian Actors in Italy and Greece as a Strategy to Prevent Migrant Smuggling (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10610-020-09465-0); 2. Civil society and academic discussion - https://migrationresearch.com/discussion/15; 3. Our findings also fed into EC guidance on Facilitation directive - https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/commission-guidance-implementation-facilitation-unauthorised-entry_en.pdf. 4. Findings were also used in the research for the European Parliament - Protecting civil society space: strengthening freedom of association, assembly and expression and the right to defend rights in the EU - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2020/659660/IPOL_STU(2020)659660_EN.pdf. 5. CEPS in cooperation with PICUM and Migration Policy Group on 14 May 2020 has organised a webinar 'Criminalisation of Solidarity: How to protect the right to help migrants and refugees?' - https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-events/criminalisation-of-solidarity-how-to-protect-the-right-to-help-migrants-and-refugees/. The webinar has been viewed by 1554 times. 6. CEPS researchers provided input to Welcoming Europe Alliance two breakfast sessions (last one on March 2021) on the issue of criminalisation, borders and human rights.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
Impact Types Societal,Policy & public services
 
Description Increased critical reflection among EU policy makers and national practitioners at CEPS Ideas Lab 2017 session - EU migration policies: Are there effective ways to address smuggling?.
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://www.ceps.eu/sites/default/files/JHA%20IL%20Excerpt.pdf
 
Description Increased critical reflection on impacts of EU's anti-migrant smuggling laws and policies on civil society actors at European Parliament, LIBE Committee
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The presentation at the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) public hearing on 27 September 2018 on "The Implementation of the Facilitation Directive and humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants" (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20180927-1500-COMMITTEE-LIBE). The ESRC empiric findings challenged the views that migrant smuggling is the best way to manage so called European Refugee Humanitarian Crisis. The presentation showed the individual costs for refugees and migrants as well as EU citizens that acted in solidarity. It demonstrated how 'policing' of civil society actors have a negative societal impact on fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy. The presentation improved understanding of the risks related to the vagueness of the legal concept of Facilitation of Entry and lack of mandatory exemption of humanitarian actors from criminalisation in the EU Facilitators' Package. The risks get exacerbated when it lands at a highly politicised context criminal justice tool aimed at prosecuting criminals becomes a generic migration management tool. Thus anti-smuggling policies are targeting basic services and humanitarian assistance as a 'pull factor'. The empiric evidence has supported findings that effectiveness of criminal justice systems and protection of civil society free space and mandate are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing.
URL http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20180927-1500-COMMITTEE-LIBE
 
Description Increased critical reflection on responsibility of EU institutions for criminalisation of solidarity at European Parliaments' Committee on Petitions (PETI)
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact Presentation at the European Parliaments' Committee on Petitions (PETI) meeting on 21 November, 2018 (www.europarl.europa.eu, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20181121-1430-COMMITTEE-PETI) and contributed to the decision of PETI Committee to keep the petition open. In addition, The EP PETI Committee decided to o send inquiries to the Italian and Greek governments as well as to Dimitris Avramopoulous, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship. The chairperson of this Committee, MEP Cecilia Wikstrom, concluded that it "may be the most important petition received by the PETI Committee for this mandate of the European Parliament". And MEPs during this hearing stated that decisive action is needed at EU level, otherwise EU institutions become responsible for allowing EU Member States to prevent and prosecute humanitarian actors and human rights defenders. The EP PETI Committee concluded that criminalisation of civil society is contrary to founding EU values and principles as well as in contravention of international human rights, humanitarian and maritime laws and therefore requires speedy, clear and obligatory EU level guidance.
URL http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20181121-1430-COMMITTEE-PETI
 
Title Field visits to Italy, Greece, UK and Hungary with stakeholders 
Description Between November, 2016 and September, 2017, a total of 89 semi-structured interviews were carried during field visits to Italy, Greece, Hungary and UK and in follow-up. During the field trip to Italy, 16 face-to-face interviews were carried out in Rome and Catania between 7-12 of November 2016; whereas in Greece between 6-12 of June 2017, 14 face-to-face interviews were conducted in Athens and Lesvos. In Hungary, 16 face-to-face interviews were conducted between 28-21 August 2017 in Budapest and Szeged. 2 additional interviews were conducted across the border in Subotica (Serbia). In the UK, 15 face-to-face interviews were carried out between 3 July and 16 August 2017 in London. Skype interviews were used to supplement data collected via the field trips. Because of the changing circumstances during time of the research following the demolition of the Calais 'Jungle' camp in October 2016, interviews with actors previously (and in some cases continually) present in the Calais region were conducted either in London or via Skype (see Annex 1 of the Book 'Policing Mobility' for an anonymised list of interviewees). In addition to the field trips, a visit to the EU's Justice and Home Affairs agencies in The Hague (The Netherlands) was conducted on 24 August 2017, where 6 interviewees provided their opinions and inputs. Finally, follow-up interviews were organized via Skype so as to provide information and context on the latest developments. In addition, in all four countries, PICUM (the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants) collected testimonies from CSAs and carried out media monitoring of relevant news to provide evidence of the phenomenon of policing CSAs engaging with undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in the EU (PICUM, 2017). The interviews were carried out with: (i) EU officials and agencies, including representatives from the European Commission and EU agencies like Frontex, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), Europol and Eurojust; (ii) National authorities, including domestic border/coast guard and law enforcement and judicial actors; (iii) UN actors, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM); (iv) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The information and data gathered during the field visits were used to supplement and contrast the desk research findings and to cover the practical, day-to-day manifestations of the implementation of EU policies on countering migrant smuggling and their effects over the provision by CSAs of humanitarian assistance and access to justice and fundamental rights for irregular immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees. During the field visits, efforts were successfully taken to ensure a broad sample representing a diversity of stakeholders. 
 
Title Online Survey 
Description The online survey was carried out between April and August 2017 in cooperation with PICUM. In total 114 respondents representing diverse civil society actors answered the survey. Out of these, 84 respondents represented the four countries covered in this research - Italy, Greece, Hungary and the UK (See Figures & Charts in Book 'Policing Mobility'). Only 7 respondents from Hungary participated in the survey, which was thereafter complemented with semi-structured interviews in the field trip. The survey also received answers from 9 respondents working at the EU level and 21 respondents working in other countries. Among the later, there were 7 respondents working in France (namely Calais camp), 2 in Germany and a range of singular responses scattered across Western Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland & Switzerland); Eastern Europe (Belarus, Czech Republic & Romania); and Southern Europe (Malta, Portugal). Survey respondents represented a wide spectrum of different types of civil society actors - from service providers to activists, though, approximately half of all respondents represented employees or volunteers of formally established CSOs. It is indicative that one fifth of all respondents were individual volunteers, usually from another EU Member State, who felt their obligation to pause their own lives and come to help refugees, asylum seekers and migrants during their journey to (presumed) safety. Among 'Other respondents' there were a few researchers, people working in the community, as well as a person representing a UN actors and a self-identified 'refugee helping other refugees and asylum seekers'. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The on-line survey contained questions about the personal and practical experiences, therefore it was important to ensure that the majority of survey respondents actually worked with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and had personal experience in providing humanitarian assistance. The results of the online survey have been included in the Book 'Policing Mobility' which will be published in 2018. The qualitative and quantitative collected complement the research findings and provided an overview of the places and sites where humanitarian assistance is provided by Civil Society Actors and individuals. 
 
Description Collaboration with Migration Policy Centre 
Organisation European University Institute
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution In the period from March, 2018 until May, 2018 we have cooperated in planning, organising and disseminating conference that brought academics who conducted empiric research as speakers and EU policy makers and practitioners, as discussants.
Collaborator Contribution Partners - MPC-EUI have shared organisational costs and also covered the venue and filming/editing expenses of the conference coverage. With one of the researchers we continue to cooperate in the study, called "Fit for purpose? The Facilitation Directive and the criminalisation of humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants: the update study" that was commissioned to CEPS by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PETI).
Impact Another discussion with policy makers, practitioners and academia was organised on 24 of April, 2018 focused on on "The many faces of migrant smuggling: From a crime to a humanitarian act". The event was organised in cooperation with the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) of the European University Institute (EUI) and PICUM. The event brought together two empiric research projects looking at the different facets of migrant smuggling (http://migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/Programme_Migrant-Smuggling-event_24April_Brussels.pdf). See the YouTube playlist with presentations and discussions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZL0y-B_bfkQgGJPFrkC_f3_6HmFy7TaR.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in CEPS Brexit taskforce 
Organisation Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Involvement of the CPS along the border/coast guard authorities, police and judicial actors to the closed door discussion at CEPS has further led to their involvement of the CPS in the CEPS task-force on Brexit in the area of judicial cooperation.
Collaborator Contribution CPS practitioners who contributed to the ESRC report either via interviews or attended closed-door discussion were invited to the sub-subsequent task-force as to share their concerns in the context of Brexit.
Impact The Task Force, will run from February 2018 to May 2018, in the form of three meetings. It aims at reaching sound conclusions and suggesting a set of priorities and recommendations for the EU and the UK to progressively build when negotiating future agreements in these policy areas. It will provide an unique forum/platform where policy-makers, national and European practitioners, private sector representatives and experts can meet and exchange views in an open and plural format when designing the way forward models/options for future cooperation between the EU/UK and the US in criminal justice and police cooperation. At the end of the process, CEPS will publish a concise policy-oriented report with actionable recommendations. The report will be co-authored by Dr. Sergio Carrera and Prof. Valsamis Mitsilegas. Meetings Date 1st meeting: Wednesday, 21 February 2018 Date 2nd meeting: March 2018 Date 3rd meeting: April 2018
Start Year 2018
 
Description ReSOMA - the Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum 
Organisation EUROCITIES
Country Belgium 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The research findings have influenced the prioritization of Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants topic to be followed during the two year period.
Collaborator Contribution CEPS & PICUM, grantees of the ESRC grant have joined ISMU, MPG, Social Platform, ECRE, Eurocities, IMISCOE Network - key covering key academics and practitioners researching the issues related to asylum, migration and integration.
Impact The ReSOMA project further disseminated the findings and promoted discussions at the EU level: 1. Discussion brief on "Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants" - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. (See also in the list of publications). 2. . In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November, 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. 3. Task Force on underlying priorities - Similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision makers and practitioners had opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy on migrant smuggling.
Start Year 2018
 
Description ReSOMA - the Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum 
Organisation European Council on Refugees and Exiles
Country Belgium 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The research findings have influenced the prioritization of Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants topic to be followed during the two year period.
Collaborator Contribution CEPS & PICUM, grantees of the ESRC grant have joined ISMU, MPG, Social Platform, ECRE, Eurocities, IMISCOE Network - key covering key academics and practitioners researching the issues related to asylum, migration and integration.
Impact The ReSOMA project further disseminated the findings and promoted discussions at the EU level: 1. Discussion brief on "Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants" - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. (See also in the list of publications). 2. . In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November, 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. 3. Task Force on underlying priorities - Similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision makers and practitioners had opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy on migrant smuggling.
Start Year 2018
 
Description ReSOMA - the Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum 
Organisation ISMU Foundation
Country Italy 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The research findings have influenced the prioritization of Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants topic to be followed during the two year period.
Collaborator Contribution CEPS & PICUM, grantees of the ESRC grant have joined ISMU, MPG, Social Platform, ECRE, Eurocities, IMISCOE Network - key covering key academics and practitioners researching the issues related to asylum, migration and integration.
Impact The ReSOMA project further disseminated the findings and promoted discussions at the EU level: 1. Discussion brief on "Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants" - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. (See also in the list of publications). 2. . In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November, 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. 3. Task Force on underlying priorities - Similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision makers and practitioners had opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy on migrant smuggling.
Start Year 2018
 
Description ReSOMA - the Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum 
Organisation Migration Policy Group
Country Belgium 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research findings have influenced the prioritization of Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants topic to be followed during the two year period.
Collaborator Contribution CEPS & PICUM, grantees of the ESRC grant have joined ISMU, MPG, Social Platform, ECRE, Eurocities, IMISCOE Network - key covering key academics and practitioners researching the issues related to asylum, migration and integration.
Impact The ReSOMA project further disseminated the findings and promoted discussions at the EU level: 1. Discussion brief on "Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants" - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. (See also in the list of publications). 2. . In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November, 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. 3. Task Force on underlying priorities - Similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision makers and practitioners had opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy on migrant smuggling.
Start Year 2018
 
Description ReSOMA - the Research Social Platform on Migration and Asylum 
Organisation Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants
Country Belgium 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The research findings have influenced the prioritization of Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants topic to be followed during the two year period.
Collaborator Contribution CEPS & PICUM, grantees of the ESRC grant have joined ISMU, MPG, Social Platform, ECRE, Eurocities, IMISCOE Network - key covering key academics and practitioners researching the issues related to asylum, migration and integration.
Impact The ReSOMA project further disseminated the findings and promoted discussions at the EU level: 1. Discussion brief on "Crack down on NGOs assisting refugees and other migrants" - http://www.resoma.eu/sites/resoma/resoma/files/policy_brief/pdf/Policy%20Briefs_topic4_Crackdown%20on%20NGOs_0.pdf. (See also in the list of publications). 2. . In addition, research findings were presented at ReSOMA Transnational Feedback Discussion with lawyers and civil society organisations that have been charged with migrant smuggling. The meeting was organised by MPG, PICUM, Social Platform and CEPS and it took place in Brussels on 19 November, 2018. Our research findings will likely contribute to the elaboration of ReSOMA Guidelines on Protection of Humanitarian Assistance. 3. Task Force on underlying priorities - Similar discussion has been held on 21st of November at CEPS premises within the frame of ReSOMA project. The European and UN level decision makers and practitioners had opportunity to discuss the 'emergency-driven' priority setting, the role of evidence and long-term strategy on migrant smuggling.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Blog Article "Is 'saving lives at sea' still a priority for the EU?" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This article was a spin-off of the empiric evidence and insights that has been gathered during the research. The Boel foundation later contacted the author - Lina Vosyliute to participate the "Expert workshop on Global Conflicts" on 10 July, 2018 as the article received high readership.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://eu.boell.org/en/2018/04/19/saving-lives-sea-still-priority-eu
 
Description Conference: Constructing Viable Futures - Unaccompanied Migrant Young People Transitioning to 'Adulthood' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Jennifer Allsopp participated as speaker, where she presented her research, in the International Conference "Constructing viable futures: Unaccompanied migrant young people transitioning to adulthood" on 12 December 2017, at St Antony's College, University of Oxford, organized by the Becoming Adult Team. This event marked the end of another three-year ESRC study exploring the wellbeing outcomes of former unaccompanied minors as they make the transition to adulthood. It brought together academics, practitioners, policy makers and civil society organisations with young people to present knowledge and insights on this issue and to consider the research, policy and practice implications for this group of young people both in the UK and internationally.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://becomingadult.net/2017/11/09/becoming-adult-conference-12-december-2017-oxford/
 
Description Focus Group with Civil Society Actors 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact A first focus group with civil society actors was held on 11 May 2017 in Brussels. 25 individuals participated, representing European level networks and organisations as well as national CSOs and non-formal groups from Italy, Hungary, Greece and the UK. The main aim of this discussion was to get a better understanding of how policing and criminalization policies affect CSAs assisting migrants and refugees, especially in the context of search-and-rescue. This focus group discussion helped to map the main actors in the field of policing and criminalization in different contexts and their interactions with humanitarian CSAs. Participants also discussed the short, medium and long-term impacts of policing and criminalization on migrants and refugees and those assisting them and how CSAs respond. Participants further elaborated on the main concerns and priorities of individuals and organizations going forward as regards this phenomenon, especially in terms of advocacy and policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Focus Group with EU agencies and national coastguards, law enforcement and judicial actors 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The second focus group discussion with 25 representatives of EU agencies and national coastguards, law enforcement and judicial actors, took the form of a high level closed-door meeting. The event was organized on 21 September 2017 in Brussels. The discussion, which was carried out under Chatham House rules, provided a coherent picture of migrant smuggling, covering topics including the EU's operations at sea, the policing of 'hotspots', police investigations and finally, (lack of) prosecutions at national courts. It gave a critical account on the important role of coastguards, police and immigration officers and prosecutors at the national level in saving lives, fighting abuses of vulnerable position of refugees and other migrants, as well as ensuring the access to justice and protection of their rights. The discussion focused on the actual and desired role of civil society actors in the highly politicized context of migrant smuggling; and of possibilities for cooperating while simultaneously preserving and respecting different mandates.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Policy Meeting at the European Parliament on the Effects of EUs Anti-Smuggling Policies on Civil Society Actors 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Justice and Home Affairs Section at CEPS, in cooperation with MEP Jean Lambert, QMUL and PICUM, organised a policy meeting on the "Effects of EU's anti-smuggling policies on civil society actors" from 10:30 to 12:15  (Brussels time) on 22 of November, 2017 at the European Parliament, in Brussels.  

This event aimed to present findings of the final report of the one year research project led by the Queen Mary University London and CEPS on "Anti-Smuggling Policies and their Intersection with Humanitarian Assistance and Social Trust" and to launch of the web-page of testimonies of civil society actors gathered by PICUM & CEPS, in four countries covered -  Greece, Hungary, Italy and  the UK. 
 
Afterwards an interactive discussion followed with all the relevant stakeholders attending the event.  The event engaged with the MEPs, EU agencies, practitioners (coastguards, police officers, prosecutors and judges), civil society, international organisations, and media representatives. The event was streamed online via the public Facebook profile of MEP Jean Lambert (https://www.facebook.com/GreenJeanMEP/videos/10156838831093306/?fref=mentions), having currently more than 2.6K views. PICUM colleagues facilitated the discussion on Twitter.  
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CIxG8aGXWmjOlln0UR7rlO2n4_YpZqaz
 
Description Webstreaming of the "The many faces of migrant smuggling: From a crime to a humanitarian act". 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Webstreaming of the discussion with policy makers, practitioners and academia on "The many faces of migrant smuggling: From a crime to a humanitarian act". The event was organised was organised in cooperation with the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) of the European University Institute (EUI) and PICUM and took place in Brussels on 24 of April, 2018. The event brought together two empiric research projects looking at the different facets of migrant smuggling (http://migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/Programme_Migrant-Smuggling-event_24April_Brussels.pdf)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZL0y-B_bfkQgGJPFrkC_f3_6HmFy7TaR
 
Description Workshop on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework with European Commission - 15 December 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Lina Vosyliute, Researcher at CEPS was invited by European Commission (DG HOME) to attend a workshop on the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework - 15 December 2017.
In light of the preparations of the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), DG HOME is conducting a series of informal meetings with several stakeholders in order to gather their input on the future funding instruments for migration and home affairs. For this purpose, DG HOME.E3 was organising an informal workshop with participants from International Organisations and third sector representatives, beneficiaries of DG HOME funds, to gather their feedback regarding the current funding instruments (AMIF and ISF) and their suggestions for the future.
The workshop took place in DG HOME premises (Rue du Luxembourg 46, 1049 Brussels, Room Fortescue) on Friday, 15 December 2017, from 10:00 to 13:00. Lina Vosyliute has presented some of the research findings and concerns related to the increasing prioritization of combating anti-smuggling policies without equivalent safeguards in the EU law that could potentially raise issues for the AMIF beneficiaries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017