Migration 2026: Lessons of the Past and Challenges of the Present. An Expert Discussion
On June 30, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion titled “Migration 2026: Lessons of the Past and Challenges of the Present.” In Russia, a new Concept of State Migration Policy for 2026–2030 has entered into force. Meanwhile, for the first time in nearly three decades, the European Union is fundamentally revising its rules on refugee admission. The United States is consistently tightening its immigration laws. Approaches to attracting foreign labour are also changing in the Gulf countries. Today, migration policy is a key component of socioeconomic reality. States are seeking balanced regulatory mechanisms that consider not only economic needs—such as attracting highly qualified specialists—but also security, social stability, and cultural integration. Moreover, for many developed countries, migration is virtually the only way to address demographic challenges. Against the backdrop of declining birth rates, an aging population, and a shrinking working-age demographic, it is migration that sustains economic activity, supports pension systems, and enables the reproduction of human capital. What are the shortcomings of previous approaches to migration regulation? How do migration issues influence election campaigns in host countries? What challenges do migrants face amid increasingly stringent migration legislation and public discourse? What might an optimal migration policy look like—one that takes into account different cultural, economic, and political contexts? Speakers: Andrea Bianchi, Analyst (Belgium) Nikolai Gordiychuk, Indologist, mediator, Head of the Mediation Department at Masala Chai Jobs recruitment agency Elmira Imamkulieva, Head of Laboratory for Contemporary Iranian Studies, HSE Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent at Canterbury Moderator: Anton Bespalov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club
On June 30, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion titled “Migration 2026: Lessons of the Past and Challenges of the Present.” In Russia, a new Concept of State Migration Policy for 2026–2030 has entered into force. Meanwhile, for the first time in nearly three decades, the European Union is fundamentally revising its rules on refugee admission. The United States is consistently tightening its immigration laws. Approaches to attracting foreign labour are also changing in the Gulf countries. Today, migration policy is a key component of socioeconomic reality. States are seeking balanced regulatory mechanisms that consider not only economic needs—such as attracting highly qualified specialists—but also security, social stability, and cultural integration. Moreover, for many developed countries, migration is virtually the only way to address demographic challenges. Against the backdrop of declining birth rates, an aging population, and a shrinking working-age demographic, it is migration that sustains economic activity, supports pension systems, and enables the reproduction of human capital. What are the shortcomings of previous approaches to migration regulation? How do migration issues influence election campaigns in host countries? What challenges do migrants face amid increasingly stringent migration legislation and public discourse? What might an optimal migration policy look like—one that takes into account different cultural, economic, and political contexts? Speakers: Andrea Bianchi, Analyst (Belgium) Nikolai Gordiychuk, Indologist, mediator, Head of the Mediation Department at Masala Chai Jobs recruitment agency Elmira Imamkulieva, Head of Laboratory for Contemporary Iranian Studies, HSE Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent at Canterbury Moderator: Anton Bespalov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club