DELMIG International Project Kick-off Meeting Held at the Pilar Institute; Zagreb, 01-02/10/2026

The kick-off meeting of the new international project DELMIG – Labour Migration and Demographic Change: A Blueprint for Shaping Immigration Societies in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (2026 – 2028) took place on 1–2 October 2026 at the Pilar Institute in Zagreb. The project brings together research institutions and civil society organisations from Hungary, Poland, Romania and Croatia and is jointly implemented by ERSTE Foundation and THE CIVICS Innovation Hub

The project addresses one of the most significant social and demographic transformations affecting Central, Eastern and Southeastern European countries: the simultaneous processes of population decline and ageing, labour shortages, and labour migration, particularly from third countries. Through mapping the current situation, conducting fieldwork, interviews and focus groups, and engaging in consultations with representatives of the public, business and civil society sectors, the project aims to compare the experiences of the four countries and develop recommendations for more sustainable and inclusive migration governance. The final outputs will include an integrated research report and a proposed set of guidelines for shaping emerging immigration societies in the region.

The project partners include THE CIVICS Innovation Hub and Znanje na djelu in Croatia; the Power of Humanity Foundation, Alternative Communities Association, ELTE Budapest, and Periféria Policy and Research Center in Hungary; the New Community Foundation and the University of Warsaw in Poland; and Tech and Tonic and the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Romania. The international research consortium is coordinated by Caroline Hornstein Tomić, PhD, from the Pilar Institute, who also serves as the research lead for Croatia. Andrej Ivan Nuredinović, PhD, also from the Pilar Institute, is a member of the Croatian research team.

The two-day meeting in Zagreb brought together researchers, university academics and representatives of civil society organisations from Romania, Hungary, Poland and Croatia, alongside colleagues and partners from ERSTE Foundation in Austria and THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. The national research leads include Dóra Gábriel from ELTE University in Budapest, Agnieszka Fihel from the Centre of Migration Research at the University of Warsaw, and Remus Gabriel Anghel from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest.

The kick-off meeting also marked the beginning of a new phase of the project. Throughout 2026 and 2027, detailed mapping and field research will be conducted in all four countries, followed by international comparative analyses, expert workshops and the development of joint policy recommendations. The project is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2028.