MCC's Migration Research Institute hosted a roundtable discussion titled "Migration as a Weapon?", examining how migration has increasingly become a strategic instrument in international politics. Bringing together experts from across Europe, the event explored how states can leverage migration flows to exert political pressure, advance geopolitical interests, and challenge their rivals.
In his opening remarks, José Miguel Bravo Louwerens, Head of Strategy, Knowledge Management, Innovation and Research at the Ministry of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, argued that the instrumentalization of migration has become a significant element of modern hybrid warfare. He explained that certain governments deliberately influence migration movements in order to destabilize neighboring countries or gain political leverage.
According to Louwerens, Europe has witnessed several prominent examples of this phenomenon in recent years. He pointed to developments along the Belarus-Poland and Russia-Finland borders, as well as the migration pressures faced by Spain in its North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
The discussion also focused on the security risks associated with the weaponization of migration. Róbert Gönczi, Analyst at the Migration Research Institute, recalled that members of the Islamic State entered Europe among larger migrant flows during the migration crisis of the previous decade, with the intention of carrying out terrorist attacks. He stressed that large-scale migration movements can present significant security challenges when governments are unable to effectively monitor and manage border crossings.
Looking to the future, the panel examined the European Union's new Migration and Asylum Pact, which is set to enter into force on June 12, 2026. The legislation aims to improve the management of migration and asylum procedures while introducing new mechanisms for handling irregular migration, including the establishment of so-called return hubs outside the EU.
Gönczi noted that while these facilities may provide practical solutions in certain cases, they could also create new forms of financial and political dependency between EU member states and partner countries. As examples, he highlighted the Italy-Albania agreement, Austria's cooperation with Uzbekistan regarding the return of Afghan nationals, and Germany's efforts to negotiate the repatriation of rejected Afghan asylum seekers.
The event provided valuable insight into one of the most pressing issues facing Europe today. As migration continues to intersect with questions of security, sovereignty, and geopolitical competition, understanding its role in contemporary international affairs remains increasingly important.
