Stockholm – ESI meets with high level officials to discuss the future of EU enlargement and migration

10 December 2024
Stockholm
Photo: ESI

ESI’s Gerald Knaus visited Stockholm on 9 and 10 December for discussions on migration policy, the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova, as well as the ongoing crisis in Georgia.

On Monday, Gerald met Diana Janse, Swedish state secretary at the ministry for international development cooperation and foreign trade, to discuss global cooperation on migration, returns, voluntary repatriation, and the establishment of safe third-country agreements. 

He also met with Lars Schmidt, Swedish deputy director general at the ministry for foreign affairs, focusing on migration policy and measures to reduce irregular migration.

Additionally, Gerald met Fredrik Löjdquist, director of the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS), and Torbjörn Haak, Sweden’s deputy permanent representative to the European Union, for discussions on the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Georgia.

In the afternoon, Gerald participated in a roundtable discussion at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (Sieps) on EU enlargement. Addressing 20 participants from ministries, expert groups, and academia, he emphasised the need for a revitalised enlargement process and proposed granting the Western Balkans access to the single market and the four freedoms.

Meeting
Photo: ESI

On Tuesday, Gerald delivered a presentation on “Migration in a Changing Political Landscape” to Diana Janse, Christian Danielsson, Swedish state secretary to the minister for EU affairs, and Anna Dahlberg, state secretary to the prime minister of Sweden. He examined current migration trends to Europe, national responses, and policies needed to manage irregular migration. Gerald advocated for safe third-country agreements as a humane and cooperative solution.

In the afternoon, Gerald briefed members of the Swedish Parliament on migration policy, advocating for strategies to disincentivise irregular migration, foster cooperation and development strategies among EU member states, and implement safe third-country agreements.

Meeting
Photo: ESI 
 

Finally, Gerald met with Christina Beinhoff, the German ambassador to Sweden, to discuss migration policy and the EU enlargement process.

In the evening, Gerald participated in Germany’s biggest political talk show, Markus Lanz, to discuss what the fall of the Assad regime means for refugee policy.