Activities

In 2025, both the number of irregular entries and asylum applications in Germany and the EU have declined significantly, while the number of deportations has increased. This FFVT briefing examines how these developments can be contextualised and explained.

With its multicultural model of society and its pluralistic immigration policy, Canada has been regarded as an international benchmark for decades. The country has long played a pioneering role, particularly in the area of refugee resettlement – for example, through innovative programmes such as the private refugee sponsorship scheme introduced in the 1970s, which has been recognised internationally as a model and widely adopted. Together with its managed, points-based immigration mechanisms, all this has earned Canada a reputation as a country with an outstanding ‘culture of welcome’, which has also been the subject of intense debate in Germany. In a North American comparison, Canada is frequently seen as the “more liberal counter-model” to the United States, particularly against the backdrop of more restrictive developments in the North American context since Donald Trump’s re-election in 2017.

15-16 October 2026 – Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS), Osnabrück University (on site)

The Collaborative Research Centre SFB 1604 “Production of Migration” and the BMBF-funded project “Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: Networking and Knowledge Transfer” (FFVT) offer a fully-funded two-day colloquium in the field of forced migration and refugee research. It is open to PhD researchers and early career Postdocs based in Germany.

The conference focuses on refugee protection in Germany, Europe and worldwide, against the backdrop of diverse social challenges and increasingly polarised public debate. The aim is to provide an evidence-based reflection on the current state of affairs and the future development of refugee protection. The terms ‘flight’ and ‘refugees’ are understood in a broad sense and encompass not only asylum seekers but also those granted temporary protection, internally displaced persons, and people who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of climate change.

Building on the findings of the “Report Globale Flucht”, empirical research findings will be combined with the practical experiences of various stakeholder groups. The conference is intended as a platform that bridges the gaps between research, politics, administration and civil society, enabling participants to reflect jointly on challenges, opportunities and scope for action, and to develop new perspectives.