Policy brief series: EU-AU migration governance 18.09.2025 Security concerns and crisis narratives dominate the AU-EU migration relations, often sidelining African stakeholders. A new series of policy briefs looks into ways of changing that. Sunday, 25.08.2024 News Publication New Pact Series: Focus on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum In our New Pact Series, we analyse the reforms introduced by the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Sunday, 25.08.2024 News Publication Progressive Migration Group The Progressive Migration Group, an expert panel of African and European migration specialists, formulates innovative recommendations and forward-looking policy proposals for progressive forces at both the EU and national levels. These proposals aim... Thursday, 15.08.2024 News Progressive Migration Group: Recommendations to European and African Lawmakers Migration is a key driver of development, but its full potential remains untapped. In this paper, the Progressive Migration Group advocates for a rights-based, development-oriented EU migration policy. From coercion to cooperation ©UN Photo/Rick Bajornas Migration continues to be a central theme in EU-Africa relations, yet policies are too often shaped by one-sided security concerns, externalisation strategies, and crisis narratives. This narrow focus risks overlooking the structural drivers of mobility as well as the opportunities it can generate when approached through cooperation and fairness. In this vein, the Progressive Migration Group (PMG) presents its 2025 briefing series on AU-EU migration governance. The papers, published by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Fondazione Socialismo Ets, urge a shift from coercion to cooperation, calling for a rights-based, evidence-driven, and pragmatic collaboration that strengthens African agency. Reframing EU-AU migration governance: Bridging divergence through pragmatic collaboration Migration remains a central yet contested issue in AU-EU relations. While the African Union views migration as a potential driver of development, integration, and mobility rights, the EU prioritises security, control, and returns. This policy brief calls for pragmatic collaboration that bridges divergences. By fostering rights-based, development-orientated governance, migration can turn from a point of friction into a shared opportunity for progress. Reframing EU-AU migration governance Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 bridging divergence through pragmatic collaboration Download publication Rethinking return cooperation and conditionality in the context of EU-AU migration relations Return policies have become the cornerstone of AU-EU relations. But despite large investments, enforcement rates remain low, while conditionality on aid or visas to achieve return agreements undermines trust, and weakens human rights protections. This policy brief argues for a recalibration of AU-EU migration governance from coercion toward cooperation. Rights and accountability must be embedded at its core, as well as investment in regularisation, functional reintegration support and labour mobility pathways. Rethinking return cooperation and conditionality in the context of EU-AU migration relations Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 Download publication Revitalising multilateralism to rebalance EU-Africa migration cooperation Multilateralism is increasingly threatened by rising nationalism, geopolitical tensions, and shrinking commitments to cooperation. AU-EU migration governance has since drifted from a shared development priority towards a highly politicised, securitised battleground, resulting in weakened global conventions, aid and budget cuts and eroding trust in global frameworks. This policy brief calls for a reset: multilateralism must be revitalised through renewed commitments, inclusive governance, and sustainable financing. Revitalising multilaterialism to rebalance EU-Africa migration cooperation Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 Download publication About the Progressive Migration Group The Progressive Migration Group (PMG) is a network of African and European migration experts established by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The PMG examines the relations and cooperation between the European Union and African countries or regions, aiming to put into question the prevailing emotionally charged narratives surrounding migration. Its primary focus is to develop practical recommendations and policy proposals for progressive forces at the EU, African and national levels, addressing both migration and other policy areas that impact migration. Follow the activities of the PMG here.
Reframing EU-AU migration governance Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 bridging divergence through pragmatic collaboration Download publication
Rethinking return cooperation and conditionality in the context of EU-AU migration relations Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 Download publication
Revitalising multilaterialism to rebalance EU-Africa migration cooperation Akintola, Lukmon ; Angenendt, Steffen | Brussels : FEPS, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, September 2025 Download publication
