The Friends of ERA launched their 2025 Chapters’ activities with a well-attended online event, co-hosted by the Portuguese and the Young Friends Chapters. On 30 January, 37 participants gathered to discuss European migration policy and its complexities.
We were honoured to welcome Dr António Vitorino, former Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration and former EU Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs. His insights provided a deeper understanding of the EU’s new Pact on Migration, emphasising the importance of coordination among Member States. He also discussed the potential of well-structured bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries, and the need to ensure that migration policies uphold international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement. Dr Vitorino stressed the necessity of maintaining a humanitarian perspective in migration and asylum policies, encouraging policy professionals and legal experts to approach their work with empathy and humility.
The event offered a meaningful exchange of ideas, reinforcing our shared commitment to creating a more informed Europe.
