Congress against racist migration politics & Demonstration against the „Vienna Migration Conference“
17. – 21. Oktober 2025
The ICMPD stands for racist and inhumane asylum and migration policies. Let us come together and oppose this – for freedom of movement and equal rights for all!
Ten years ago, in the summer and autumn of 2015, hundreds of thousands of people set out for Europe – in search of a life in dignity. They broke through the European border regime. Millions of people in Europe acted in solidarity, offered help and welcomed refugees.
Ten years later: while more and more people are being forced to leave their homes due to war and crises, the media and politicians are stirring up hatred against refugees and freedom of movement. The summer of solidarity has been reinterpreted as a ‘refugee crisis’ that must ‘not be repeated’.
The European border regime has massively upgraded its capabilities and created new forms of defence against people: Europe’s borders have been externalised and militarised for years, political parties are vying to see who can deport people to crisis areas more effectively and consistently, and are working to abolish the last remnants of the right to asylum.
The Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is one of the institutions playing an increasingly important role in this architecture of the European border regime. On 21 and 22 October, it will host the 10th Vienna Migration Conference in Vienna. Every year, it invites representatives from politics, actors in the (European) migration and border regime, and ‘experts’ to exchange ideas, jointly plan Europe’s migration policy and formulate strategic recommendations for policymakers.
The ICMPD is an ideological think tank, but also a key player in many of the repressive migration policies implemented in Europe in recent years. Funded by the EU, among others, its recommendations and analyses advocate isolation, outsourcing, exploitation and rationalisation of people in need and fleeing their homes. In addition to making recommendations to politicians that have serious consequences for those affected, such as payment cards for refugees in Bavaria and now also in Lower Austria, the ICMPD is actively involved in the externalisation of reception procedures to the EU’s external borders and third countries and is involved in migration deals that violate human rights.
Among other things, the ICMPD is working on training security forces in Libya and Tunisia and is currently deepening its cooperation with Algeria within the framework of ‘capacity building’. Brutal mass deportations and pushbacks into the desert, life-threatening attacks on people on boats in the Mediterranean, torture camps, murders and rapes – these are practices carried out by these states, actively encouraged by EU deals and institutions such as the ICMPD.
Although the ICMPD operates at EU level, it is also closely linked to Austrian politics and was founded on the initiative of Switzerland and Austria. For 10 years, it has been headed by former ÖVP minister Markus Spindelegger, who will be succeeded this year by former ÖVP minister Susanne Raab. It shows a relevant basic attitude of the ICMPD when it is fed by the ideology of a party that has long been known for its restrictive and brutal migration policy. Especially when the initiatives for so-called ‘remigration’ from the extreme right also come from Austria, it is important to send a signal here in Vienna and to oppose the spread of racist politics from Austria. Over the last few years, the ICMPD has successfully managed to largely escape public scrutiny.
This year, we want to change that and take the 10th anniversary of the ‘Migration Summit’ as an opportunity to take action together, develop strategies of solidarity and show that we will not stand idly by and watch as Fortress Europe continues to expand! 🔥