Journal “Temas de Integração”
2025 – no. 45

Over nearly three decades, the journal “Temas de Integração”, published by the Association of European Studies of the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, has been committed to fostering critical, innovative, and interdisciplinary reflections on regional integration processes and the most pressing regional and global issues. Serving as a privileged platform for transnational scientific dialogue, the journal brings together a diverse array of authors, including professors, researchers, legal experts, economists, business leaders, and other specialists engaged in the study of regional integration development processes. Furthermore, since issue 44 (2024), the journal has been published in a digital and open-access format, accepting articles in English, French, and Spanish, in addition to Portuguese.

Call for Papers:
Migratory Phenomena and the Role of International Integration Organizations

The World Migration Report released by the UN in 2024 reveals that the number of displaced persons reached a record 117 million by the end of 2022, including 35.3 million refugees, 5.4 million asylum seekers, and 71.2 million internally displaced persons. Between 1970 and 2020, the number of international migrants increased from 84 million to 281 million, and the proportion of the global population composed of international migrants grew from 2.3% in 1970 to 3.6% in 2020. Regarding international remittances sent by migrants, a significant increase of 650% was observed, rising from $128 billion in 2000 to $831 billion in 2022. The report also highlights alarming issues, such as the global record of approximately 8,500 migrant deaths and disappearances in 2023, and the projection that climate change could force the displacement of around 216 million people by 2050.
International migration flows, intensified by conflicts, authoritarian regimes, economic crises, climate change, and global inequalities, underscore the vital role of democratic international organizations in adequately addressing these challenges. Instruments such as the UN’s 2018 Global Compact on Refugees and mechanisms for screening and resettlement, or the New Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted by the European Union (EU) in May 2024, following the European Commission’s Communication on Migration (COM [2024] 126 final of March 12), along with its complementary regulations, demonstrate the interdependence and necessity of cooperation to find effective responses to the complex phenomena of migration.

International courts also play a crucial role in advancing the protection of migrants’ and refugees’ rights. A landmark ruling in case C-621/21 by the Court of Justice of the EU provides a paradigm example, recognizing gender-based violence, including threats of honor crimes and domestic violence, as forms of persecution that may justify the application of refugee status. This decision highlights the importance of gender-sensitive interpretations in migration, refuge, and asylum issues, emphasizing the role of courts in harmonizing standards and protecting vulnerable individuals and groups in migratory contexts.

In this context, the 45th edition of the journal “Temas de Integração” will focus on exploring how these issues shape the future of migration governance, particularly within the frameworks of regional integration and global solidarity. The journal aims to contribute to a broad reflection on the thematic axes listed below, which are not exhaustive:

(1) Political, diplomatic, administrative, social, economic, and legal aspects of international cooperation on migration, refuge, asylum, or displacement
- The contribution of global organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and regional organizations, such as the EU, particularly through the EU Agency for Asylum or Frontex, to durable solutions for the reception and resettlement of migrants and refugees, including the analysis of Regulation (EU) 2024/1347, which establishes protection standards for a uniform status for refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
- The impact of international partnerships in alleviating pressures on host countries and promoting legal pathways for migration, as well as the issues raised by the externalization of migration policies.

(2) Migration management policies and practices
- Assessment of the progress and potential outcomes of the EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum and its complementary regulations, including border screening at external borders (Regulation [EU] 2024/1356 of 14 May) and the resettlement and humanitarian admission mechanism (Regulation [EU] 2024/1350 of 14 May).
- Effects of the Eurodac System (Regulation [EU] 2024/1358 of 14 May) and the harmonization of reception conditions (Directive [EU] 2024/1346 of 14 May) on secondary movements and the protection of migrants’ rights.
- Use of artificial intelligence and digital data systems to manage migration flows and monitor borders.

(3) Economic and social integration of migrants
- The role of financial remittances in sustainable development and the global economy.
- Discourses on the selection and self-selection of migrants.
- Integration of migrants into the labor market and issues of labor exploitation.
- Impact of reception conditions (in Europe, exemplified by Directive [EU] 2024/1346 of 14 May) on migrants' and refugees' access to the labor market, education, and social services.
- Challenges and best practices in the inclusion of migrants and refugees in host societies, including access to healthcare, education, and housing.

(4) Human rights and international protection
- Critical analysis of the legal instruments of global and regional integration organizations for the protection of the rights of migrants and asylum seekers, including the obligations of EU Member States under the new regulations of the Common Asylum Policy (Directive [EU] 2024/1348 of 14 May) and the Uniform Status for Refugees (Regulation [EU] 2024/1347 of 14 May).
- The role of the principle of non-refoulement and human dignity in shaping migration policies.

(5) Vulnerability, resilience, and response to humanitarian crises
- Solutions in crisis and force majeure situations, focusing on accelerated procedures and mandatory solidarity mechanisms, such as Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of 14 May.
- Strategies to address the political instrumentalization of migration and mass forced displacements.
- Analysis of migration flows driven by armed conflicts, political persecution, and economic crises, with particular emphasis on situations in countries such as Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, and Mexico.

(6) Climate displacement
- Conceptualization of forced migration due to climate change.
- The role of international organizations in protecting climate-displaced individuals, considering initiatives such as the Global Compact on Refugees and the UN Pact for the Future (Action 6, e), as well as regional efforts to mitigate climate impacts.
- The situation of small island states and the role of opinions issued by international and regional courts.
- Sustainable solutions and governance mechanisms to prevent climate-related displacements and support affected communities.

(7) Gender-based violence in migration contexts
- Exploitation of migrants, particularly women, through sextortion as a form of gender-based corruption during migration journeys and in destination countries.
- Policies and strategies to combat sextortion and provide adequate support to victims, as well as the need for specific legal frameworks to address this form of violence.
- Analysis of gender-specific issues in detention conditions, particularly concerning health and education.

(8) Ilegal migration and human trafficking
- Exploration of how trafficking networks exploit vulnerable migrants during their journeys, highlighting the dynamics between labor trafficking, sexual exploitation, and servitude.
- Assessment of international cooperation efforts and best practices for preventing and combating human trafficking in the context of migration, including coordinated actions between the UN, the EU, and other organizations.
- Analysis of legal barriers to protecting trafficking victims and irregular migrants, including gaps in national and international legal frameworks.
- Use of emerging technologies to track and dismantle trafficking networks and protect migrants from abusive practices during their journeys.

(9) Antagonistic discourses on migration and their political implications
- Impacts of speeches by world leaders and influencers promoting antagonism toward migration on public policies and social perceptions of migrants.
- Analysis of how polarized narratives influence the actions of governments and international organizations in migration management.
- Strategies to promote balanced, human rights-based discourse in the global migration context.

This call for papers invites a diverse audience, including lawyers, judges, economists, business leaders, sociologists, policymakers, professors, researchers, students, and other interested authors, to submit works that explore these issues, present concrete cases, analyze current dilemmas, propose innovative solutions, and assess their future implications.

Key Dates Leading to the Publication of Issue 45, Expected by the End of 2025:

April 5th, 2025 - Submission of abstracts
April 15th, 2025 - Notification of accepted abstracts
June 30th, 2025 - Deadline for submission of full articles
July 31th, 2025 - Notification of accepted full articles
August 31th, 2025 - Deadline for any corrections and adjustments

Submission Guidelines for Abstracts:
a.The proposed article to be developed must be summarized in an abstract of up to 1,000 characters, including spaces, in Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 spacing.
b.The title must appear above the abstract, in Times New Roman font, size 14, in uppercase, bold, and left-aligned.
c.The name(s) of the author(s) must be listed below the abstract, accompanied by a brief biographical note of no more than 500 characters (for each author), including spaces. It is recommended to include ORCID identification and academic affiliation, if available.
d.Abstracts may be submitted in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French.
e.Abstracts must be submitted by April 5, 2025, to the email address: temasdeintegracao@fd.uc.pt

Submission Guidelines for Full Articles (Post-Acceptance of Abstracts):
a.Authors of abstracts accepted by the journal must submit their full articles by June 30, 2025, via email to temasdeintegracao@fd.uc.pt
b.Articles must in written in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French.
c.Article titles must be at least bilingual (Portuguese and English) or trilingual if the article is presented in Spanish or French.
d.Articles must be submitted in an editable file format (.doc/.docx/.odt/.txt), with uniform formatting. It is recommended to use Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing for the body text, and size 10 with single spacing for footnotes. Margins should be 2.5 cm on all sides.
e.Articles should be between 12 and 15 pages in A4 format, including references.
f.APA 7th Edition style must be used for citations and references.
g.A reference list must be included at the end of the article.
h.Italics should be used instead of underlining, except for URLs.
i.Complete author(s) identification must be included (maximum of 4 lines per author), including name, affiliations, email, and ORCID.
j.The article must include 5 keywords and an abstract of up to 300 characters (including spaces) in the language of the article, in Portuguese, and in English.
k.Footnotes should be used sparingly and should not exceed 300 characters (including spaces) individually.

The final acceptance of full articles will be confirmed after the peer review process.

Any questions can be directed to the email address: temasdeintegracao@fd.uc.pt

References

McAuliffe, M. & Oucho, L. A. (2024). World Migration Report 2024. International Organization for Migration (IOM). Retrieved from https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2024

United Nations General Assembly. (2024). Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 22 September 2024: The Pact for the Future (A/RES/79/1). UN. Retrieved from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4061879?v=pdf

United Nations. (2018). Global Compact on Refugees. UN. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/media/global-compact-refugees-booklet

United Nations. (2024). Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. UN. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sotf-pact_for_the_future_adopted.pdf

WS v. Intervyuirasht organ na Darzhavna agentsia za bezhantsite pri Ministerskia savet (Case C-621/21), Court of Justice of the European Union, Grand Chamber. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PT/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62021CJ0621

European Commission (2024, March 12). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council: Striking a balance on migration: an approach that is both fair and firm. (COM/2024/126 final). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A126%3AFIN

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Directive (EU) 2024/1346, laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1346/oj

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1347, on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted, amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC and repealing Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PT/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401347

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1348, establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1348/oj

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1349, establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1349/oj

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1350, establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1350/oj

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1356, introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/817. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1356/oj

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1358, on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of biometric data. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PT/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1358

European Parliament and Council (2024, May 14). Regulation (EU) 2024/1359, addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1359/oj