#23 Europe’s migration crisis: Inside the EU’s struggles and solutions, with Margaritis Schinas

When migration collides with geopolitics, Europe finds itself at the centre of global turbulence. In this episode, Emmanuel Comte speaks with European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas to explore how the EU has confronted major migration crises—from the war in Syria and the displacement from Ukraine to high-stakes tensions with Belarus and Turkey. Offering exclusive insights from inside the Commission, Schinas explains the political struggles behind EU migration policy and outlines the ambitions of the new Migration Pact to reshape Europe’s approach for the future.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-23/.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gkOhg8Mo_TU

This interview was arranged by Xenia Saratsioti and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

00:00 Introduction
02:22 Career Origins: The Road to Migration Policy
07:13 Europe’s Fragmented Migration Framework
11:58 The 2015 Migration Crisis
15:05 From Spokesperson to Vice-President
17:49 The Evros Border Showdown and Turkey’s Deep State
23:25 Cyprus and the Green Line
29:09 The Triangle Turkey, Greece, Cyprus
32:47 The New Pact on Migration and Asylum
36:46 The Economics of Smuggling
40:30 Challenges Ahead: Cyprus and Geopolitical Instability
46:08 Conclusion: Reflections and Future Plans