Altstätten – ESI on humane migration on International Day of Human Rights

Altstätten. Photo: flickr/Kurbelwelle

ESI’s Gerald Knaus led a discussion on migration and refugees in Altstätten, Switzerland. The event took place on the International Day for Human rights, and was held in conjunction with a sister event held across the border in Hohenems, Austria, the previous evening.

On the panel, Gerald Knaus argued that effective and humane migration policy is essential for safeguarding liberal democracy in Europe. Far-right parties have gained support by exploiting fears surrounding irregular migration and promoting exclusionary identity narratives. This threatens both Europe’s integration democratic foundations, threatening to pull us back towards the violent nationalism of the past. Addressing this challenge requires more than harsh rhetoric; instead, democratic parties must develop migration policies that uphold the rule of law, protect fundamental rights, and demonstrate that migration can be managed in ways that are both effective and consistent with European values. By doing so, they can offer a credible alternative to politics driven by fear and exclusion.

As a framework, Gerald pointed to the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement, which he noted led to a steep decline in both irregular arrivals and drowning deaths. Gerald advocated for a similar partnership today between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Under such an arrangement, migrants attempting to cross the English Channel irregularly could be returned through a legal process, while the United Kingdom would commit to resettling a defined number of people through safe and lawful pathways. If successful, similar partnerships could be expanded beyond Europe, helping to create a system that reduces dangerous journeys, ensures protection for that in need, and strengthens legal migration. Such a development would be good for migrants, good for human rights, and good for democracy in Europe.

Event in Altstätten. Photo: Gerald Knaus.

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