Have the conflicts and wars in Europe (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan) led to the forced migration of refugees?

As of today, 10 million Ukrainians have left their country to seek refuge in mostly neighboring countries. This wave constitutes the largest exile in Europe since World War II. In comparison, social and political turmoil in Afghanistan and Venezuela have created roughly 5 million refugees in both cases.

The 2020 conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has also led to a ‘migration of proximity’ but on a lesser scale. According to official figures, 91,000 individuals were forced to leave Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia as a direct result of the conflict in and around Nagorno Karabakh.

In your latest book, you mention "a spectacular change in Europeans with regard to asylum" in the context of the war in Ukraine. What is your assessment of the situation?

It is a dream for those of us who have been observing migrant crises over a number of years. Proposed by Brussels after the war in Yugoslavia and Kosovo, the Temporary Protection Directive stagnated because of a lack of consensus, even during the migrant crisis of 2015. For Ukrainians, it was unanimously adopted by European ministers before coming into effect on March 7th. The status offers Ukrainians a residence permit, the right to work, housing solutions, schooling for their children and language courses. From French citizens welcoming Ukrainians into their households to cities in Province opening up empty buildings to the newcomers, the support was rapid and widespread.

Will the hospitality last?

The hospitality will certainly last for the Ukrainian refugees but not for the others. Refugees from other countries need to renew their status. As a refugee, you cannot return to your country because it invalidates your request 'for protection' from a host country. The Ukrainians, with their temporary protection, can always return home. Furthermore, Ukrainians have been migrating to the rest of Europe for work purposes since 2000. Concerning the Ukrainian refugees who moved because of the war, it is those who work in the most qualified professions (engineers, doctors…) who will likely stay in Western Europe. This will weaken Ukraine by leading to shortages of qualified and skilled workers in its own territory.

What are the deficiencies in European migration policy?

What is lacking is solidarity among European nations. The Treaty of Lisbon underlines respect for the diversity of states but also the importance of solidarity. In Poland and Hungary, rural regions and cities benefited from EU funds but the two countries were parsimonious during the refugee crisis of 2015. Europe was weak because no retaliatory measures were undertaken. If the EU did not sanction the countries that refused to accept migrants, it means that there was a lack of values, and we ruled in favor of these countries.

What do you think about the deal between Britain and Rwanda that foresees the relocation of asylum seekers in Britain to Rwanda?

It is delusional; it represents a violation of the Geneva Convention. When I first heard of the plan, I thought it was a proposal made by the (former) Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the context of campaign season. Sending asylum seekers to another country against their will is extremely dangerous.

In the context of climate change and an increasing number of floods, fires, hurricanes, and droughts, why haven’t international bodies created the status of 'environmental refugee' yet?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has noticed that people mostly move within their countries whenever there is an environmental disaster, whether it be in Bangladesh, the Pacific Islands, Haiti or Pakistan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has decided to elaborate local and regional forms of protection. Since the poorest countries usually suffer the most from climate disasters, relegating the solution to a local or regional level is the IPCC’s way of giving up. We need a worldwide solution for climate refugees.