Description
MIrreM examines estimates and statistical indicators on the irregular migrant population in Europe as well as related policies, including the regularisation of migrants in irregular situations. A core aim of the project is to address the uncertainty and contested nature of evidence on irregular migration by fostering a shared understanding of basic features of and policy options to address the phenomenon. MIrreM analyses policies defining migrant irregularity, stakeholders’ data needs and usage, and assesses existing estimates and statistical indicators on irregular migration in the countries under study and at the EU level. Using several coordinated pilots, the project develops new and innovative methods for measuring irregular migration and explores if and how these instruments can be applied in other socio-economic or institutional contexts. Based on a broad mapping of regularisation practices in the EU as well as detailed case studies, MIrreM will develop ‘regularisation scenarios’ to better understand conditions under which regularisation should be considered as a policy option. Together with expert groups that will be set up on irregular migration data and regularisation, respectively, the project will synthesise findings into a Handbook on data on irregular migration and a Handbook on pathways out of irregularity. The project’s research covers 20 countries, including 12 EU countries and the United Kingdom, involving stakeholders in the research. A core mandate of the project consists of engaging relevant stakeholders, including NGOs, service providers, migrant-led organisations, researchers and policymakers on local, national and EU levels in the research, in order to better take into account their needs and feed results from the project back into their work.
Details
| Duration | 01/10/2022 - 30/09/2025 |
|---|---|
| Funding | EU |
| Program |
|
| Department | |
| Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems) | Mag. Dr. Albert Kraler |
| Project members |
Dr. Jill Ahrens
|
| Project website | https://www.irregularmigration.eu/ |
Publications
Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda Díaz-Aguado, I., Levoy, M. (2025). Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press, Krems
Kierans, D.; Kraler; A.(eds.) (2025). Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices. University of Krems Press, Krems
Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Overview of regularisation types – policy diversity and implications for migrant inclusion. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press: 32-37, University of Krems Press, Krems
Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Regularisation as a policy tool: defining scope, purpose and limits. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press. 23-31, University of Krems Press, Krems
Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A. (2025). Migrants in an irregular situation and regularisation – a longstanding debate. In: Ahrens, J., Kraler, A., Legarda, I., Levoy, M, Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes: 16-22, University of Krems Press, Krems
Hendow, M.; Kraler, A.; Bilger, V.; Hofmann, M. (2025). Navigating policy options: addressing the presence of long-term irregular migrant populations. In: Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda, I.; Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. 60-73, University of Krems Press, Krems
Kierans, D.; Kraler, A. (2025). Introduction – Making the case for better data on irregular migration. In: Kierans, D.; Kraler, A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices. 17-22, University of Krems Press, Krems
Kierans, D.; Kraler, A. (2025). Progress, limits, and the need for sustained effort. In: Kierans, D.; Kraler, A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data – Concepts, Methods and Practices: 129-135, University of Krems Press, Krems
Kraler, A. (2025). Effects of regularisation. In: Ahrens, J.; Kraler, A.; Legarda, I.; Levoy, M., Handbook on Regularisation Policies: Practices, Debates and Outcomes. University of Krems Press. 52-59, University of Krems Press, Krems
Kraler, A.; Bircan, T.; Singleton, A. (2025). What is irregular migration? In: Kierans, D.; Kraler A., Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices: 23-40, University of Krems Press, Krems
Cacciapaglia, M.; Ambrosini, M. ; Bonizzoni, P. ; Kraler, A.; Cyrus, N.; Desmond, A.; Ahrens, J.; Ahmad Yar, A. W.; Bircan, T.; Cassain, L.; Carvalho, J.; Finotelli, C.; Goldfarb, A.; França, T.; Heylin, R.; Mohan, S.; Neronov, A.; Slootjes, J.; Steiner, B.; & Triandafyllidou, A. (2025). Regularisation in Europe and North America: Comparative Reflections on Societal Challenges and Benefits. MIrreM Working Paper No 13, Krems
Kierans, D.; Vargas-Silva, C.; Ahmad-Yar, A. W.; Bircan, T.; Cacciapaglia, M.; Carvalho, J.; Cassain, L.; Cyrus, N.; Desmond, A.; Fihel, A.; Finotelli, C.; Gonzalez Ramos, M. P.; Heylin, R.; Jauhiainen, J.; Kraler, A.; Leerkes, A.; Nikolova, M.; Rössl, L.; Santos, S.; Schütze, T.; Sirruno, L. & Sohst, R. R. (2025). MIrreM Public Database on Irregular Migration Stock Estimates. University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems), Krems
Kraler, A. (2024). Policy-relevant migration research: how to create impact. In: Zapata, R. & Vintila, D., How to Do Migration Research. 188-196, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK
Hendow, M.; Wagner, M.; Ahrens, J.; Chert, M.; Kierans, D.; Kraler, A.; Leekers, A.; Leon, L.; Rodrígues Sánches, A.; Siruno, L.; Tjaden, J.; Vargas-Silva, C. (2024). How fit is the available data on irregular migration for policymaking? MIrreM Policy Brief No.3, Zenodo
Rössl, L., Schütze, T., Kraler, A. (2023). Austria. In: Hendow, M; Qaisrani, A; Brunovska, Compilation of 15 Country Briefs on Irregular Migration Policy Context: 10-24, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems
Kraler, A. (2023). Taxonomy of migrant irregularity. MIrreM, Krems
Kraler, A.; Ahrens, J. (2023). Conceptualising migrant irregularity for measurement purposes. MIrreM Working Paper Nr.2, Krems
Lectures
Comparing Pathways out of Migrant Irregularity: Findings from the MIrreM Database on Regularisation Policies in Europe
22nd IMISCOE Annual Conference, 03/07/2025
Does regularisation have a ‘pull effect’? Conceptual reflections, empirical evidence and a case study.
22nd IMISCOE Annual Conference, 03/07/2025
Irregular migration: What we (can) know and how this knowledge can inform policymaking
MIMAP Closing Conference Irregularly staying Migrants: Empirical Findings and Methodological Advances, 20/05/2025
Statistische Erfassung irregulär aufhältiger Personen in Europa
Fachbeirat Bevölkerungsstatistik, 25/03/2025
Policy responses to the presence of irregular migrants: A typology
IMISCOE Spring Conference 2025 - The Regularity of Irregularity. Rethinking Migration Paradigms, 19/03/2025
Insights from MIrreM
Roundtable - Bridging Research and Policy. Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe Shaping Migration Policy, 14/12/2023
Concepts and estimates of irregular migration
New perspectives on irregular migration. Joint webinar of Horizon projects on irregular migration., 18/10/2023
Das MIRREM-Projekt & vorläufige Projektergebnisse
MIrreM Data Workshop. "Unsichtbar weil irregulär?” : Indikatoren und Schätzungen der irregulären Migrantenbevölkerung in Österreich, 20/09/2023
Tabuthema Irreguläre Migration: Antworten jenseits von Rückführung und Abschottung
Podiumsdiskussion, Österr. Akademie d. Wissenschaften, 20/09/2023
Measuring irregular migration and related policies
Irregular Migration in Europe: Data Challenges and Priorities for Informed Decision-Making. MIrreM Stakeholder Workshop, 12/09/2023
The use of data on irregular migration in policy making
ECPR General Conference, 05/09/2023
“Enhancing EU migration governance”? Reflections on the research-policy nexus in the context of Horizon Europe-funded research on irregular migration. Roundtable
20th Annual IMISCOE Conference, 05/07/2023
Irreguläre Migration: Politische und praktische Herausforderungen, Maßnahmen & Auswirkungen
MIrreM Policy Workshop, 12/06/2023
Irreguläre Migration und politische Antworten auf Irregularität
Wege in die Legalität, 02/06/2023
Daten zu irregulärer Migration in Österreich: Bedarf, Nutzung und Herausforderungen
MIrreM Stakeholder Workshop, 23/05/2023
