Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Return migration in Europe is often discussed in terms of numbers and obligations. This video looks beyond policy targets to explore whether return debates fully consider time, community ties, and the realities of people who have lived in European countries for years—building lives, contributing to local communities, and forming social connections.
It also examines the gap between return commitments and how political and institutional realities differ in countries of origin and the EU, asking what kind of cooperation and support is needed for return policies to be realistic, fair, and sustainable.
with GAPs researchers Prof. Tineke Strik, Member of the European Parliament, and Prof. Gerasimos Tsourapas, University of Birmingham.
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These videos have been produced under a contract with the EU’s Horizon Europe Research Program (HORIZON-CL2-2022-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-09, Project Reference GAPs 101094341), financed by the European Union’s budget.
The opinions expressed are those of the contractor and do not necessarily represent the contracting authority’s official position.
Please visit migrationmatters.me to learn more about our work and subscribe to our courses.
You are free (and encouraged!) to embed this video and use it for any non-commercial purposes: CC BY-NC 4.0
Produced by: Migration Matters e.V. 2026
Editorial & production: Bernadette Klausberger, Jessica Baker
Edited by: Karoline Schulz
Graphic and Motion Design by: Liv Bustorff & Paula Bambach
Music: Mello C by Mapigavo (Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC 4.0), Hippo (MF-198, Musicfox)
Return migration in Europe is often discussed in terms of numbers and obligations. This video looks beyond policy targets to explore whether return debates fully consider time, community ties, and the realities of people who have lived in European countries for years—building lives, contributing to local communities, and forming social connections.
It also examines the gap between return commitments and how political and institutional realities differ in countries of origin and the EU, asking what kind of cooperation and support is needed for return policies to be realistic, fair, and sustainable.
with GAPs researchers Prof. Tineke Strik, Member of the European Parliament, and Prof. Gerasimos Tsourapas, University of Birmingham.
***
These videos have been produced under a contract with the EU’s Horizon Europe Research Program (HORIZON-CL2-2022-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-09, Project Reference GAPs 101094341), financed by the European Union’s budget.
The opinions expressed are those of the contractor and do not necessarily represent the contracting authority’s official position.
Please visit migrationmatters.me to learn more about our work and subscribe to our courses.
You are free (and encouraged!) to embed this video and use it for any non-commercial purposes: CC BY-NC 4.0
Produced by: Migration Matters e.V. 2026
Editorial & production: Bernadette Klausberger, Jessica Baker
Edited by: Karoline Schulz
Graphic and Motion Design by: Liv Bustorff & Paula Bambach
Music: Mello C by Mapigavo (Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC 4.0), Hippo (MF-198, Musicfox)
