Europe and Mobilities: Challenges and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformations

Project Information

EuroMobi

Grant agreement ID: 101232335

DOI

10.3030/101232335

Project closed

EC signature date 28 April 2025

Start date 1 February 2025

End date 31 October 2025

Funded under

• Civil Security for Society

Total cost

€ 299 975,00

EU contribution

€ 299 975,00

Coordinated by

UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EuroMobi (Europe and Mobilities: Challenges and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformations)

Reporting period: 2025-02-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EuroMobi project addressed a critical challenge in contemporary European policymaking: the persistent gap between knowledge production and its practical application. Despite decades of robust research on migration, demography, technology, and democratic governance, scholarly insights frequently fail to inform policy decisions at national and EU levels. This disconnect undermines both the legitimacy of research and the effectiveness of policy interventions.
The project aimed to bridge this gap by facilitating sustained dialogue among researchers, policymakers, civil society stakeholders, and practitioners across multiple governance levels. Organized during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EuroMobi created a platform for evidence-based debate on Europe's most pressing socio-economic transformations.
The project's main aim was to assess the short- and long-term consequences for Europe (and the European Union) of ongoing demographic, migration-related and technological transformations. However, the key idea was to examine these processes (and their consequences) from a specific perspective: that of knowledge production and sharing/use.
There is a general agreement that there is a significant gap between the production of knowledge and its practical application in policymaking. The EuroMobi project was designed to address this issue by disseminating evidence on European socio-economic transformations and facilitating dialogue between academics, policymakers and civil society stakeholders at multiple levels. The plan was to organise various activities leading up to a major international conference during the Polish Presidency of the European Union.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project culminated in a high-level international conference held June 4-6, 2025, at the University of Warsaw. The event featured:
- 373 registered participants from academia, EU institutions, national governments, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society;
- Two keynote addresses by Professor Hein de Haas (University of Amsterdam) on migration paradigms and Dr. Natalie Welfens (Universität Duisburg-Essen) on the research-policy gap;
- Seven thematic sessions covering migration futures, demographic resilience, Central and Eastern Europe in transition, democratic backsliding, green transformations, technological revolutions, and European Research Area potential in SSH;
All sessions were live-streamed with sign language interpretation, ensuring broad accessibility. The conference convened distinguished speakers from the European Commission, national ministries, UN agencies (UNHCR, IOM), leading universities, and civil society organizations.
Internal evaluation confirmed strong participant satisfaction, with over 90% rating the conference at least 5/7 (excellent), and 43% awarding the highest rating.
EuroMobi positioned itself not as a one-time event but as the beginning of a sustained process. Structured follow-up activities—including policy briefs (November-December 2025), thematic reports, interviews, and digital content—will carry forward conference recommendations into future research collaborations, Horizon Europe funding opportunities, and EU policy processes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The conference was designed not merely to present conclusions but to generate and refine ideas through open, structured debate. While each session provided a starting point for critical reflection, the most impactful outputs were developed post-conference, drawing on discussions, insights, and questions raised. These informed production of synthesis reports, thematic reflections, and policy briefs, contributing to European policy debates and research agendas beyond the event itself. The conference emphasized long-term and multi-modal participation alongside in-person attendance, with communication materials highlighting opportunities to follow events online, rewatch sessions on demand, engage with key documents, and contribute post-event reflections. The digital platform functions as a long-term knowledge hub, encouraging continued engagement after the live event concluded.
In collaboration with University College London, the project developed innovative approaches to communication and dissemination, implemented during preparation and to be utilized for policy brief distribution.
EuroMobi paid particular attention to involving early career researchers and underrepresented voices, creating an inclusive, intergenerational forum. Communication efforts emphasized this commitment, highlighting contributor diversity and the value of fresh perspectives in shaping European societies' future.

Audience of the conference

Keynote speech - Natalie Welfens

Panellist - Wasyl Bodnar (Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland)

Networking

Audience of the conference

Session I Future of migration in Europe

Keynote speech - Hein de Haas

Panellist - Kevin J. Allen (UNHCR)