The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) is pleased to host its first State of Asylum Conference 2025 on 18 June 2025.
This flagship event will bring together high-level policymakers, EU institutions, international organisations and experts to discuss the current landscape of international protection and migration in the EU, the challenges we face, and the evolving EU migration agenda, particularly with regards to the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Through high-level keynote speeches and panel discussions, this conference is an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and share innovative ideas in the complex and evolving areas of asylum and migration.
This year’s event, which is built around the theme "EU Asylum at a Crossroads?", will focus on past and future trends in migration and asylum in the EU and deepening partnerships to address mounting challenges, both in the EU and beyond.
The conference will also feature a presentation of the newly released EUAA Asylum Report 2025. The EUAA’s flagship report provides a comprehensive overview of key developments in legislation, practices and policies in Europe, and this year features summaries by country to highlight changes at the national level.
We hope that you will join us for this exciting inaugural event!
For further information, please contact the EUAA State of Asylum Conference Team at
[email protected].
Please also refer to this page for further information and updates.
EUAA Asylum State of Asylum Conference Agenda
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
08:45 – 09:15
Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:15 – 09:30
Welcome by the Conference Moderators
09:30 – 09:45
Opening Address
Nina Gregori
Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
09:45 – 10:00
Keynote Speech
Myriam Spiteri Debono
President of Malta
10:00 - 10:15
Keynote Speech (Video Message)
Magnus Brunner
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, European Commission
10:15 – 11:30
1st Panel Discussion:
Migration and Asylum at a Crossroads: Where do we go from here?
Moderator:
Ali Aslan
Moderator, TV Presenter and Journalist
Panel:
- Byron Camilleri, Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment (Malta)
- António Leitão Amaro, Minister of Presidency (Portugal)
- Makis Voridis, Minister of Migration & Asylum (Greece)
- Mari Rantanen, Minister of the Interior (Finland)
- Andi Mahila, Deputy Minister of Interior (Albania)
- Michael Spindelegger, Director General, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
11:30 – 12:00
Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:00
Marketplace showcasing EUAA’s work (on site)
12:00 – 12:30
Reflections on the EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Ward Lutin
Head of Asylum Knowledge Centre, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
Jean-Louis De Brouwer
Director of the European Affairs Programme, Egmont Institute
12:30 – 13:45
2nd Panel Discussion:
EU Working Together.
Stepping up EU Migration Management, in the face of mounting European and international challenges
Moderator:
Lilian Tsourdi
Professor and Jean Monnet Chair in European Migration Law and Governance, Law Faculty of Maastricht University
Panel:
- Nina Gregori, Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
- Lukas Gehrke, Director of the Global Office in Brussels, International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
- Philippe Leclerc, Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe, UNHCR
- Simon Mordue, Deputy Secretary General, European External Action Service (EEAS)
- Kim Freidberg, Director of Home Affairs, Council of the European Union
- Beate Gminder, Acting Director-General, DG Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), European Commission
- Hans Leijtens, Executive Director, Frontex
13:45 – 14:45
Lunch & Networking
Sacra Infermeria Hall, MCC, ground floor
13:45 – 14:45
Marketplace showcasing EUAA’s work (on site)
14:45 – 16:15
3rd Panel Discussion:
Drawing lessons from the past. The EUAA’s role in the new CEAS.
Moderator:
Hugo Brady
Senior Strategic Advisor, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
Panel:
- Evelina Gudzinskaitė, Chairperson of the Management Board, European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
- Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar, Deputy Executive Director (EUAA) and Former Chair of the Management Boards of the EUAA and EASO
- David Costello, Former Chairperson of the Management Board of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)
- Robert Visser, Former Executive Director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)
- Wolfgang Taucher, Former Chairperson of the Management Board of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO)
16:30 – 16:45
Closing Remarks
Nina Gregori
Executive Director, EUAA
17:00 – 18:00
Marketplace showcasing EUAA’s work (on site)
18:00 – 21:00
Evening Reception
Grand Harbour Terrace, MCC, rooftop