States and Migration: The Human Movement Podcast

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-23/ [https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-23/]. When migration collides with geopolitics, Europe finds itself at the centre of global turbulence. In this episode, Emmanuel Comte speaks with European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas to explore how the EU has confronted major migration crises—from the war in Syria and the displacement from Ukraine to high-stakes tensions with Belarus and Turkey. Offering exclusive insights from inside the Commission, Schinas explains the political struggles behind EU migration policy and outlines the ambitions of the new Migration Pact to reshape Europe’s approach for the future.    This interview was arranged by Xenia Saratsioti and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-22/ [https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-22/]. In this episode, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Eleni Mavrou—former Interior Minister of Cyprus and the first female mayor of Nicosia—to examine how migration is governed in a divided EU member state. They discuss the realities of asylum seekers, undeclared labor, housing crises, and religious tensions in the buffer zone city of Nicosia. Mavrou shares unique insights into EU-Cyprus migration policy, the role of the Green Line, and how Cyprus’s exclusion from the Schengen Area complicates its position as a gateway to Europe. With rising pressure on the Eastern Mediterranean route, this testimony sheds light on a critical yet overlooked frontier in European migration governance. This interview was arranged and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-21/. In this episode of States and Migration: The Human Movement Podcast, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Nicos Nouris, former Minister of Interior of Cyprus, to examine the country’s response to the ongoing migration crisis in Cyprus. Nouris provides a firsthand account of how Cyprus has managed irregular migration routes, addressed rising criminal networks, and confronted structural challenges posed by Schengen Area exclusion. The discussion explores the role of the Green Line in Cyprus—a de facto internal EU border—through which the majority of irregular arrivals occur, and considers the broader geopolitical implications of Turkey–EU relations, including alleged settlement strategies and cross-border trafficking. This revealing conversation offers rare insights into how migration, sovereignty, and European integration collide on a divided island at the crossroads of three continents.   This interview was arranged and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-20/ This episode of States and Migration delves into Discussing Pax Germanica, a new volume that reinterprets European integration through the lens of German influence. Dr. Emmanuel Comte presents the central argument discussed in the book: Germany’s historical legacies and political clout have profoundly shaped the structures of the European Union, particularly its approach to mobility and sovereignty. A highlight is Caroline de Gruyter’s chapter, which draws striking parallels between the Habsburg Empire and today’s EU, underscoring the dangers of geopolitical overreach in both political systems. The episode concludes with a call to rethink European security in light of Europe’s unique historical identity.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-19/ In this episode of States and Migration in Europe, host Dr Emmanuel Comte sits down with Professor Randall Hansen, author of the recent book War, Work, and Want: How the OPEC Oil Crisis Caused Mass Migration and Revolution (OUP, 2023), to unravel the layers of anti-immigration riots in the UK, including the intense unrest of last summer. Through a historical lens, they explore the roots of anti-immigrant sentiments and discuss whether Britain has a unique approach to immigration. Using examples from the past, they also delve into the question of racism—whether it is a cause of these conflicts or a symptom of deeper issues.