A new observatory aimed at improving the EU’s migration policy has been set up between the Middlesex University and a number of stakeholders. 

Dean of International Politics at the university, Brad Blitz, said the observatory would collect and curate information on migration for informed policy decisions to be made, as well as to provide an academic tool on the issue.

Speaking at a press conference launching the observatory, Prof. Blitz said the EU had historically been slow to react to situations such as the migration crises.

“We want to create a situation were not only the reaction is faster and better informed, but also were we have early warning systems in place to act before it is too late,” he said.

The newly set up Mediterranean Observatory on Migration, Protection and Asylum (Mompa) will work closely with humanitarian NGOs such as the UNHCR, as well as with a new organisation called Migrant Report, which is aimed at collecting, curating and compiling data on migration.

The observatory will also be working with the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, Moas, which Prof. Blitz said was on the frontline of migrant search and rescue in the Mediterranean.

Moas director Martin Xuereb said the observatory had interns from the university which, among other things, were creating new geographic maps on the evolving migration situation.

“The difference between information and intelligence is the process by which the information is selected and transforming it into something valuable,” the former AFM commander said.

The observatory heads will be meeting with the Office of the Prime Minister later today, as well as with the EU’s asylum arm, EASO, before heading to Sicily for an information gathering exercise.