On 17-18 March 2025, researchers from Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Law School held a discussion on the new concepts in European migration law with the students and professors of law and political science at New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia. Prof. dr. Lyra Jakulevičienė and doctoral student Mariana Varkalienė visited MRU ERUA partner University in Sofia in the framework of the Excellence Centres’ project “Reconciling New Concepts of Migration and Asylum Law with Human Rights Standards in Contemporary Europe” (RENECO). The visit featured working group meetings, a public event-discussion and meetings dedicated to international academic collaboration between the two universities. Working sessions allowed the team to  advance the objectives of the RENECO project, ensuring continued progress and meaningful contributions to the field.

The discussion on new concepts in European migration law featured the analysis of the key challenges that the EU Member States are facing with regard to migration, instrumentalization of migrants and broader geopolitical context. It covered key aspects of the changing migration law regulation after the adoption of the new EU Asylum and Migration Pact in 2024 (to be enforced in 2026). In particular, it dwelled on the concepts of screening of migrants at the external borders, implications of the fiction of non-entry, external processing of asylum applications and “return hubs”. The discussants also covered potential practical implications of the implementation of new rules and procedures that are awaiting the Member States, as well as what the scientists could contribute to preparation of implementation of the new Pact.

The visit included meetings with the management of the NBU to discuss expansion of cooperation on research and studies between the universities within the ERUA partnership framework. Opportunities for closer collaboration were discussed with Prof. dr. Georgi Gotchev, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Prof. dr. Ralitsa Kostadinova, Head of the Law Department, Dr. Ekaterina Tsvetanova, Dean of the Faculty of Basic Education, and other colleagues. The visit was hosted by the Department of Political Sciences and Department of Law.

The visit was conducted as part of the project „Establishment of Centers of Excellence at Mykolas Romeris University," funded by the State Budget of Lithuania, implemented under the initiative "Centers of Excellence Initiative" of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania.