Every month we share insights and knowledge from our online employer session for partners. During our last employer session, guest speaker Henk van Houtum gave us valuable insights on the theme of 'migration and the impact on the labor market'. Below, Van Houtum shares the main points from his story.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

Henk van Houtum, professor of Geopolitics and Political Geography at Radboud University Nijmegen, and head of the Nijmegen Center for Border Research, outlined his vision on migration to and in the EU during this employers' session. He drew in particular on his recent books ' Free the Map. From Atlas to Hermes: a new cartography of borders and migration ' and ' Beyond Fortress Europe; a new vision on migration '.

 Van Houtum emphasized that the current border and migration policy involves 'border disorders': systemic construction errors that mean that the border policy, which is aimed at protecting refugees and the integrity of the country's own constitutional state, is actually counterproductive for both. goals (see also this article ).

'Border disorders'

 The first crucial border in current border policy that Van Houtum mentions is the pre-border border, the 'paper border' of the visa. There is great inequality in global freedom of movement . And the EU plays a key role in this. The EU visa policy determines who is or is not allowed access to regular migration. The visa policy is based on discrimination based on origin. The poorer and/or Muslim countries in particular require a visa. The result is that those who flee visa-required countries are unable to gain legal access to safe countries.

 This is the first border disorder: people flee from their regime, but do not receive a visa because of their regime. The result: regular access to asylum is often only available irregularly. This has created a boom in smuggling and made migration a life-threatening undertaking, even for refugees who are paradoxically trying to find a safe haven. The result: the EU, which would strive to guarantee human rights and international refugee treaties, has in practice become the deadliest border on earth.

 When the paper border is crossed, two other borders follow that are important in understanding migration to and in the EU, according to Van Houtum. The first is the physical outer border. This is the closely guarded border you encounter when you seek asylum. The paradox at play here is that politicians are busy talking about control over migration, but in the meantime, by restricting legal migration routes, they are actually encouraging smuggling and thus chaos and crime. Furthermore, the EU is increasingly outsourcing its border policy, through migration deals, to autocratic and questionable regimes, making the EU increasingly blackmailable, unable to guarantee human rights and having less and less control.

 This is followed, as Van Houtum showed, by the 'post-border' border: the physical border has been crossed, but you are still not admitted to a country, you are usually housed in centers and camps on the edges of cities and your civil rights are limited. The paradox here is that integration begins with segregation, idleness and long uncertainty.

 These three borders together show an EU that, with its own border policy, is increasingly eroding the very values ​​for which it was founded - no extreme nationalism, solidarity, cooperation across borders and compliance with human rights and the rule of law. Van Houtum calls this the autoimmunity of border policy : the EU undermines itself.

Suggestions for the future: stop dehumanization and discrimination

 Van Houtum has several suggestions for a better approach to migration, including recognizing migration as a human reality, striving for equality of global freedom of movement, and legalizing migration, which is often the result of labor demand. According to Van Houtum, it is essential to stop dehumanization and discrimination, because this is not only at the expense of the humanity and rights of the refugees themselves, but also of the rule of law and the values ​​of the EU. Consider normalizing images in words (avoid dehumanizing, animalistic and war terminology such as 'swarm', 'illegals' or 'invasion'), in images and in maps (such as maps atlas where migration appears as large, threatening invasion arrows that entering the EU are depicted).

 Van Houtum ended with an inspiring plea to look at the future with an open mind. This led to a lively discussion between those present, full of interesting insights and ideas. The session provided a great opportunity to think together and talk about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Knowing more?

 About our employer sessions and/or becoming a partner

 About Henk van Houtum