Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MIrreM (Measuring Irregular Migration and related Policies)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-10-01 bis 2025-09-30
Irregular migration is a contested policy issue, involving conflicting values and perspectives, differing opinions about the nature and scope of the phenomenon, and debate about the impacts of policy options. This lack of consensus, in turn, has contributed to widely differing assessments of the size and characteristics of the irregular migrant population, as well as its observable trends, policy impacts and policy effectiveness. In order to address irregular migration, it is necessary to know more about the population of migrants in an irregular situation and its characteristics. Who is considered to be irregularly staying? What are the defining features of migrant irregularity? How should we understand migrants who do not have a regular legal status, but are not strictly irregular either? How is irregular movement linked to irregular stay? What can we say about the characteristics of the irregular migrant population? Which feasible political options can be developed to offer migrants pathways out of irregularity?
MIrreM’s overall objective was to provide a sound evidence basis for policies concerning irregular migration and regularisation.
To fulfil this objective the project comprises an extensive review of data, and policy analysis in 20 countries in Europe (AT, BE, BA, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, NL, PL, PT, RS, TR, UK), North America (CA, US), and North Africa (MA, TN). MIrreM’s methods lab has developed and piloted innovative estimation approaches. Based on a review of regularisation policies, case studies of their implementation and effects, we have provided an extensive analysis on the relationship of regularisation to other policy options, including a typology of policy responses, access to regularisation, implementation, and effects of regularisation all of which guide stakeholders on available options in particular circumstances, as well as the implications of such policy options. The conclusions of the project have been summarised in two handbooks elaborated, the handbook on irregular migration data, and the handbook on regularisation policy, respectively.
MIrreM’s overall objective was to provide a sound evidence basis for policies concerning irregular migration and regularisation.
To fulfil this objective the project comprises an extensive review of data, and policy analysis in 20 countries in Europe (AT, BE, BA, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, NL, PL, PT, RS, TR, UK), North America (CA, US), and North Africa (MA, TN). MIrreM’s methods lab has developed and piloted innovative estimation approaches. Based on a review of regularisation policies, case studies of their implementation and effects, we have provided an extensive analysis on the relationship of regularisation to other policy options, including a typology of policy responses, access to regularisation, implementation, and effects of regularisation all of which guide stakeholders on available options in particular circumstances, as well as the implications of such policy options. The conclusions of the project have been summarised in two handbooks elaborated, the handbook on irregular migration data, and the handbook on regularisation policy, respectively.
During the inception phase, MIrreM developed the MIrreM taxonomy - a comprehensive conceptual framework differentiating between different 'classes' of migrants in an irregular situation, and different pathways for becoming or ceasing to be in an irregular situation, based on the seminal work of the CLANDESTINO project. In addition, a framework for engaging with stakeholders was developed ("critique guided designing") that served as basis for MIrreM's engagement with stakeholders and its co-creating approach.
During its main implementation phase, MIrreM has
• Undertaken a comprehensive review of policy responses to migrant irregularity on the national level, and EU level, examining policies shaping the definition of migrant irregularity, as well as pathways into and out of irregularity, and
• Has examined local level responses to migrant irregularity, focused on selected localities.
• Developed a typology of policy responses and their rationales;
• Assessed regularisation policies, their design, implementation and effects, including assumed pull effects.
• Developed two databases on irregular migration flow and irregular migrant stock data, respectively and undertook an analysis of available estimates and statistical indicators.
• Developed a data portal providing user-friendly access to irregular migrant stock data and relevant deliverables.
• Prepared pilot studies using new innovative methods for estimating irregular migration
• Synthesized overarching findings in two handbooks on irregular migration data and regularisation policy, respectively.
• Extensively engaged in outreach, amongst others by o-organising a joint webinar series together with other Horizon Europe projects, a training school (the MIrreM Spring School), and the IMISCOE Spring Conference 2025 on the Regularity of irregularity.
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During its main implementation phase, MIrreM has
• Undertaken a comprehensive review of policy responses to migrant irregularity on the national level, and EU level, examining policies shaping the definition of migrant irregularity, as well as pathways into and out of irregularity, and
• Has examined local level responses to migrant irregularity, focused on selected localities.
• Developed a typology of policy responses and their rationales;
• Assessed regularisation policies, their design, implementation and effects, including assumed pull effects.
• Developed two databases on irregular migration flow and irregular migrant stock data, respectively and undertook an analysis of available estimates and statistical indicators.
• Developed a data portal providing user-friendly access to irregular migrant stock data and relevant deliverables.
• Prepared pilot studies using new innovative methods for estimating irregular migration
• Synthesized overarching findings in two handbooks on irregular migration data and regularisation policy, respectively.
• Extensively engaged in outreach, amongst others by o-organising a joint webinar series together with other Horizon Europe projects, a training school (the MIrreM Spring School), and the IMISCOE Spring Conference 2025 on the Regularity of irregularity.
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The overarching objective of MIrreM was to promote a shared understanding of key dimensions of irregular migration, in order to contribute to more effective and coherent policies on irregular migration and regularisation.
MIrreM has achieved this by providing
1. A refined understanding of migrant irregularity and a systematic classification of different types of migrants in a precarious legal situation, also covering EU unlawfully staying EU migrants and provisionally staying migrants, and including a typology of pathways into and out of irregularity.
2. A better understanding of the relationship between pathways in and out of irregularity, on the one hand, and stocks of irregular migrants, on the other.
3. A rigorous review of existing estimates on irregular migrants living in the EU
4. Developing and testing of different innovative methods to estimate the number of irregular migrants present, as well as method for estimating overstaying in the EU;
5. Assessing the feasibility, scalability and validity of these new methods
6. Clarifying the links between policies and migrant irregularity in a multi-level setting
7. Better understanding of data needs and usage at different policy levels.
8. An examination of policy responses to irregular migration at the local, national and EU level, and developing a systematic typology of policies. .
9. Assessing viability and costs of regularisation programmes, alongside their economic, socio-demographic and health benefits.
10. Compiling the state of the art in relation to data on irregular migration and regularisation policy, respectively, including tangible recommendations in two handbooks (https://irregularmigration.eu/mirrem-handbooks/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
MIrreM has achieved this by providing
1. A refined understanding of migrant irregularity and a systematic classification of different types of migrants in a precarious legal situation, also covering EU unlawfully staying EU migrants and provisionally staying migrants, and including a typology of pathways into and out of irregularity.
2. A better understanding of the relationship between pathways in and out of irregularity, on the one hand, and stocks of irregular migrants, on the other.
3. A rigorous review of existing estimates on irregular migrants living in the EU
4. Developing and testing of different innovative methods to estimate the number of irregular migrants present, as well as method for estimating overstaying in the EU;
5. Assessing the feasibility, scalability and validity of these new methods
6. Clarifying the links between policies and migrant irregularity in a multi-level setting
7. Better understanding of data needs and usage at different policy levels.
8. An examination of policy responses to irregular migration at the local, national and EU level, and developing a systematic typology of policies. .
9. Assessing viability and costs of regularisation programmes, alongside their economic, socio-demographic and health benefits.
10. Compiling the state of the art in relation to data on irregular migration and regularisation policy, respectively, including tangible recommendations in two handbooks (https://irregularmigration.eu/mirrem-handbooks/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).