Migration Challenges of the War in Ukraine

The panel was chaired by DAVID Cristian, who was joined by the president the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Romania, Mr. Raed ARAFAT, State Secretary, Head of the Emergency Situations Department, Ministry of Interior, Romania, Mr. Jeroen DOBBER, Head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Global Security Hub, The Netherlands, Mr. Oleksiy GONCHARENKO, President of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine, Mr. Thomas HACKER, Member of the German Bundestag, Committee on the Affairs of the European Union, Germany (via VTC), Mr. Mircea MOCANU, Head of Bucharest office, UN International Organization for Migration, Romania, Mr. Piotr OLIŃSKI, Legal analyst, The Civic Development Forum Foundation (FOR), Poland.

The migration challenges at Ukraine’s borders represent a severe humanitarian global crisis with profound social and strategic implications. The situation was underscored as a deliberate attempt by Russia to weaponize migration as part of its geopolitical strategy, which resulted in a massive displacement of people. In this context, integrated partnerships and policies are crucial, facilitating a comprehensive and effective response and ensuring that both refugees and host countries benefit. By working together, nations can create a “win-win” situation that promotes stability, security, and development for all involved parties. This panel emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts and how they can effectively address the complex challenges posed by the migration crisis resulting from the conflict.