Registration is open for the latest in our series of ’21st Century Challenges: Policy Forum’ discussion meetings. ‘Europe’s Migration Crisis?’ will take place at the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) on the evening of Tuesday 22 March.

Net migration has exceeded 100,000 a year, every year since 1998. With the number of migrants entering the UK unlikely to decrease, at least in the short to medium term, how can the UK adjust to the new reality of high net migration, ensuring the best possible outcomes for the UK’s economy, society and for migrants themselves?

Read more about the context for this event.

Join the chair and expert panel to discuss how the UK might respond.

David Walker, journalist and Head of Policy at the Academy of Social Sciences, will chair the event. Panellists will examine the opportunities and challenges presented by migration to the UK at different geographical scales and consider the realities of the impacts of migration on productivity, jobs and services in the UK economy.

Professor Heaven Crawley, Chair in International Migration at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, will join us to discuss the dynamics of migration through Europe. How can understanding the dynamics of migrants’ journeys, their origins and experiences, help policy-makers in the EU and the UK respond appropriately to increasing international migration?

Dr Max Nathan is our next speaker. Max is an economic geographer with positions as Deputy Director of the ‘What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth‘ and Assistant Professorial Fellow in the Spatial Economics Research Centre at LSE, along with his role as Senior Birmingham Fellow in Regional Economic Development at Birmingham University. Max will join us to discuss the impacts of migration on the local labour market – specifically the city – and who people consume the services provided by migrant workforces.

These events are designed to bridge the gap between geographical evidence and policy. They provide the opportunity for attendees to share their expertise and knowledge on a topic to contribute to the advancement of evidence-informed policy-making.

Events are free to attend and the opportunity is available to stay after the panel event to continue discussion over dinner. There is no charge to attend dinner, but a fee will be levied if insufficient notice is given to cancel a previously booked place at dinner, to cover RGS-IBG catering costs.

If you have a relevant professional interest and expertise in this area please register to attend by contacting the RGS-IBG Policy Team.