With 2023 seeing a spike in arrivals on Europe’s shores and borders, migration is once again the pressing  issue across the continent. The European Commission’s vice-president, Margaritis Schinas, has urged member states to finalize a crucial deal over migration reform, telling ministers that a unified plan would be a means of fighting back against a rising tide of populism and smuggling networks. As the bloc looks to finalize a deal on migration policy, Greece is also making the case for Europe to revamp the EU-Turkey migrant deal from 2016. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how a surge in migrant arrivals is impacting European politics, and explore whether a deal is finally around the corner for the EU’s flagship migration reform.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

EU fails to agree changes to migration laws as Germany and Italy clash

German-Italian rift thwarts EU deal on new rules to deal with migration crises

Athens wants to revamp EU-Turkey migrant deal

Complications in reaching migration deal

Cyprus hails Moody’s two-notch credit rating upgrade bringing the country into investment grade

Turkish planes raid Kurdish targets in Iraq after terror attack in Ankara

Turkey: Two officers injured in blast outside interior ministry