To What Extent Can Expert Knowledge and Research Findings Inform Evidence-Based Migration Policy?
Cover of the report*
In the last few months, over 30 Polish migration researchers, coordinated by the Migration Research Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and commissioned by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, conducted an extensive nationwide study on Poland's migration policy. Representing universities and research institutions across Poland, these experts brought complementary knowledge from various scientific disciplines to prepare and conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative study. The resulting report, titled "Migration Policy of Poland in Opinions of Institutional Actors. The Research Report” (Warsaw 2024), was published just one day before the Polish government enacted its new migration strategy, "Regain Control. Ensure Security," set to guide the country’s migration policy for 2025-2030.
This study, the largest of its kind in Poland, covered some critical areas, including migration policy's missions, objectives and functions; as well as access to territory, protection, labor market, education, integration, citizenship, repatriation, and the Polish diaspora. The report aimed to serve as a foundational document for evidence-based policymaking, providing a detailed analysis of the perspectives of institutional actors across these domains.
GAPs Team Contributions to the National Migration Study
Two members of the GAPs project at the Centre of Migration Research (CMR) of the University of Warsaw, Marta Jaroszewicz and Marta Pachocka, were among the experts involved in preparing the survey and expert panels. They also co-authored the final report, ensuring that the findings were grounded in robust research and reflective of diverse perspectives within Poland’s migration landscape. Notably, the section on return policy in the report referenced “Legal and Policy Infrastructures of Returns in Poland – Country Dossier (WP2)” (Trylińska et al. 2024), one of the key publications produced by the Polish GAPs team. While the findings were intended to inspire the new migration strategy adopted by the Polish government, it remains uncertain how extensively they influenced the policy (read related news). This connection underscores the GAPs project's aim to integrate its research into broader policy discussions, enriching the understanding of return migration.
Challenges in Translating Research into Policy
Despite the report's comprehensive analysis and the involvement of a highly specialized group of migration experts, only a subset of the findings influenced the final migration strategy. This outcome underscores a persistent issue in policy development: short-term political interests often take precedence over scientific evidence. While the report’s insights could have guided more nuanced and effective policy measures, the limited integration of these recommendations highlights the challenges of fostering genuine evidence-based policymaking.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Policy
The GAPs project recognizes that the potential for expert knowledge to inform policy extends beyond reports and publications. Researchers’ active engagement with public institutions can also play a critical role. In September 2024, GAPs team member Marta Pachocka was invited to join the advisory group to the Chairwoman of the European Union Affairs Commission of the Polish Sejm. This advisory role represents a significant platform for discussing strategic issues relevant to Poland’s EU membership and preparations for its EU Council Presidency in 2025. Marta's inclusion in this group brings her expertise, particularly in migration policy, to high-level discussions, demonstrating how researchers can directly contribute to shaping policy.
Moreover, the CMR UW has been officially involved in EU-level bodies on migration governance. Since 2022, it has participated in the Consultative Forum of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). GAPs team members Marta Pachocka, Mateusz Krępa, and Anna Trylińska have attended consecutive plenary meetings in Malta, providing insights that reflect Poland's perspective on EU asylum policies. This engagement exemplifies how researchers can act as intermediaries, ensuring that national viewpoints are considered within broader European policy frameworks.
A Way Forward: Strengthening Research-Policy Synergies
The experience of the GAPs project highlights both the opportunities and challenges of integrating expert knowledge into migration policymaking. While there are instances where research directly informs policy, such as in advisory roles and participation in EU-level discussions, there remains a need for stronger mechanisms to ensure that comprehensive, evidence-based analyses, like the national study on migration policy, can significantly influence strategic decisions. Strengthening the dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and public institutions will be essential for fostering policies that are not only informed by data but also attuned to the complexities of migration in Poland and beyond.
*Cover of the report entitled
“Polityka migracyjna Polski w opiniach aktorów instytucjonalnych Raport z badania”, red. M. Lesińska, A. Górny, K. Podgórska, B. Solga, A. Trąbka, Komitet Badań nad Migracjami Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Warszawa 2024, https://kbnm.pan.pl/images/Raport_z_badania_KBnM_PAN_dla_MSWiA.pdf [Poland's Migration Policy in the Opinions of Institutional Actors. Research Report, eds. M. Lesińska, A. Górny, K. Podgórska, B. Solga, A. Trąbka, Committee for Migration Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 2024, https://kbnm.pan.pl/images/Raport_z_badania_KBnM_PAN_dla_MSWiA.pdf
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