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Office Ukraine Wien
Out of sight, out of mind: Against a policy of leaving people to die. On current developments in international migration policies

12. December 2024 Community

Judith Kohlenberger on the erosion of human rights, economic contradictions and the integration of refugees in Europe.

© markuszahradnik.com 

Judith Kohlenberger, migration researcher at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, is one of the most influential voices in the debate on migration and refugees. With her latest publication “Grenzen der Gewalt” (Leykam 2024), she draws attention to the political and social mechanisms behind European migration policy – and its humanitarian and economic consequences. In this interview, she talks about the social erosion of solidarity, the moral abysses of a policy of letting people die and the opportunities that migration and integration could offer.  

Office Ukraine: European and global migration policy is becoming increasingly restrictive – often at the expense of human rights. At the same time, these positions meet with broad approval, even in the center of society. Why has solidarity with refugees declined so much?  

Judith Kohlenberger: This is indeed a worrying development. The migration policies of many European countries are moving ever closer to right-wing and far-right positions, which is being reinforced in a cycle of political decisions and public opinion. Political actors appeal to migration-sceptical attitudes in the population, which in turn are shaped by these actors and their rhetoric. It’s a chicken and egg problem.  

I see a central problem in the adoption of terms and narratives from the extreme right-wing spectrum into the political mainstream. If we look at Austria in the 1990s, this becomes very clear: the FPÖ under the leadership of Jörg Haider not only knew how to exploit xenophobic and migration-sceptic sentiments among the population, but also how to deliberately reinforce them. These discourses and their terminology have now also found their way into parties of the center and even the left. In some cases, the Identitarian movement provides the keywords here, which are then taken up by parties such as the AfD and ultimately establish themselves across the entire political spectrum.  

This has serious consequences: Such narratives strengthen the social acceptance of restrictive measures and contribute to the increasing erosion of human rights standards. We are observing how this development is progressing slowly but steadily — and not just in individual countries, but across Europe.  

External border protection instead of combating the causes of flight

OU: To what extent has European policy moved away from its original humanitarian principles in recent years?  

Judith Kohlenberger: European migration policy has become more restrictive in recent years. This is particularly evident in the increasing practice of outsourcing asylum responsibilities – be it through so-called migration agreements or the establishment of “return hubs” in Third Countries (Non-EU countries). However, it is often unclear in the political and media debate exactly what measures are meant.  

These agreements aim to stop migration at Europe’s external borders – often under conditions that are in no way compatible with fundamental European values. One example is Tunisia, where refugees have been abandoned in the desert without water. This practice cannot be described as anything other than a policy of leaving people to die.  

There is a simple principle behind this policy: out of sight, out of mind. But this comes at a high price. Such measures not only exacerbate the situation in the affected regions, but also undermine the human rights to which the EU has actually committed itself. At the same time, they show where the EU’s priorities lie: While billions of Euros are being poured into external border protection, measures to combat the causes of flight and create safe and legal entry opportunities are awaiting implementation.  

OU: Is it correct to assume that fewer refugees also means fewer sceptical attitudes towards migration?  

JK: This assumption is wrong. In fact, measures such as migration agreements or the expansion of the Frontex border protection agency often exacerbate the situation. They don’t solve problems, they create new ones. Frontex is now the most expensive agency in the EU with a budget of 900 million EUR – the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights receives a fraction of this. Some of the funds flow to authoritarian systems that violate human rights with precisely these funds. This is in clear contradiction to the values that the EU claims to represent and creates further causes of flight. 

Economic damage caused by misguided migration policy

OU: How could economic arguments be used for a humane migration policy?   

JK: Europe is facing a demographic crisis. Our population is ageing rapidly and there is a growing need for workers, especially in the care and health sectors. At the same time, restrictive migration policies are preventing access to Europe not only for refugees but also for potentially qualified workers.  

It is repeatedly argued that refugees are a burden on taxpayers. This overlooks the fact that a misguided migration policy can cause enormous economic damage. Discriminatory education policies, work bans for asylum seekers and high barriers to the recognition of professional qualifications prevent people from developing their potential.  

A particularly striking contradiction can be seen in the case of people who are not entitled to asylum, such as those from Pakistan, Bangladesh or sub-Saharan Africa.  These people often work illegally in the low-wage sector because their labor is needed. Such precarious conditions are not sustainable in the long term, neither for the people concerned nor for the economy. A smart migration policy would resolve these contradictions by creating legal access and promoting integration measures at an early stage.  

OU: Could investments in integration measures make more economic sense than restrictive border protection measures?  

JK: Absolutely. Investments in integration pay off in the long term. The 2015 cohort shows this: many of those who fled back then are now working in essential jobs, especially in areas that were considered indispensable during the pandemic.  

At the same time, enormous sums are being invested in ineffective border protection measures. These funds neither protect human lives nor create prospects. On the contrary, they are contributing to a further increase in violence and insecurity at the external borders.  

Lack of planning security for Ukrainians

OU: How does the integration of Ukrainian refugees differ from that of other groups?  

JK: Ukrainian refugees benefit from privileged access to the labor market, which facilitates their integration.  However, the extension of the Blue Card for only one year at a time (currently March 2026) is not ideal for both integration and economic planning security. 

There are also hurdles, such as high bureaucratic requirements and the expectation to demonstrate a high level of German. Scandinavian countries, which accept English as a working language, are more flexible in this regard and it is important to take social perceptions into account. Ukrainian refugees are often perceived as being “closer to us” than other groups, such as those from Syria or Afghanistan. Historical and cultural narratives play a role here. However, this perception was not always self-evident: anti-Slavic resentment is deeply rooted in German-speaking countries. 

OU: What factors influence the decision of Ukrainians to stay in Europe or return home?  

JK: The longer refugees stay in Europe, the less willing they are to return. Children in particular, who go to school here and make friends, often no longer feel at home in Ukraine; in addition, more and more relationships are breaking down due to the different realities of life. Destroyed houses and unsafe living conditions also contribute to a decrease in the desire to return. At the same time, Ukraine is trying to win back its citizens, which leads to tensions.  

OU: What should the EU do to promote a humane and sustainable migration policy? 

 JK: What is needed are legal entry options, accelerated asylum procedures and a fair distribution of responsibility within the EU. Integration should also be promoted more strongly, for example through language courses and easier access to citizenship. This is the only way we can create long-term solutions.  

https://judithkohlenberger.com