Title (eng)
Towards the more effective use of irregular migration data
Author
Adèle Appriou
Migration Policy Institute Europe, Belgium
Description (eng)
Key points
• Irregular migration data is used to inform decisions across sectors—from service planning
and public debate to policy design—but remains poorly aligned with the needs of those
expected to use it. This chapter examines how different stakeholders rely on the data, and
where gaps emerge.
• We introduce the data pathway to show how data on irregular migration are defined,
collected, shared, and interpreted. At each stage, competing mandates, vague concepts, and
inconsistent practices risk undermining coherence and usability.
• Five core challenges, such as gaps in availability, ambiguous definitions and low data
literacy, limit the value of the data. Legal and institutional barriers, particularly a lack of
knowledge about the implication of the GDPR, further constrain responsible sharing and
can erode trust.
• Improving data use requires more than technical or methodological improvements. It
calls for clearer definitions, accessible documentation, stronger privacy protections, and
sustained investment in the capacity of those who collect and use the data.
Keywords (eng)
Data useStakeholdersGDPRData challengesPolicy impact
Type (eng)
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
Is contained in
Title
Handbook on Irregular Migration Data. Concepts, Methods and Practices.
ISBN
978-3-903470-24-8
Editor
Denis Kierans
Albert Kraler
Publication
University of Krems Press
From page
121
To page
128
Date issued
2025-09-30
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