Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
Head of European Migration and Diversity and Senior Policy Analyst

Alberto Horst Neidhardt is a Senior Policy Analyst and Head of the European Diversity and Migration programme. He works on asylum, migration, and integration matters, with an interest in the politics of migration and specific expertise in EU law and jurisprudence. 

Prior to joining the EPC, he was a PhD candidate in law at the European University Institute, a Teaching Assistant at the School of Oriental and African Studies and a Research Assistant at Queen Mary, University of London. He also gained experience in the law and the politics of mobility working in the Free Movement Unit of the Directorate General ‘Justice and Consumers’ of the European Commission. Alberto is also a part-time Visiting Professor at University of Antwerp, where he lectures on Comparative Law and on Legal Pluralism.

 Alberto holds a PhD and an LLM in European and Comparative Laws from the EUI (2018; 2013) and a Master’s degree in International and Comparative Law from SOAS (2011). He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Languages, Culture and Institutions of Eurasia and of the Mediterranean from Ca’ Foscari, University of Venice (2009).

PROGRAMME

European Migration and Diversity

PROJECTS

From Research to Policy: New Perspectives on EU Migration
Building Bridges: Redefining the EU’s External Migration Agenda
Regulating platform work: How will this impact migrant workers?
Post-Brexit EU-UK cooperation on migration and asylum
Mercator Dialogue on Migration and Asylum (MEDAM)
From Tampere 20 to Tampere 2.0
Disinformation about migration in the EU: Part 2
Disinformation about migration in the EU
Climate-induced displacement and migration: What role for the European Union?
Analysis of Migration Policy Developments for the EPIM programme
CERV-ELEVATED Regranting: Dialogue on disinformation ahead of the 2024 European elections
Fit for the future? The European Skills Agenda between migration and labour dynamics
What next for the EU’s migration and asylum system after the New Pact?
The labour inclusion of Ukrainian refugees
DignityFIRM: Dignity For (Irregular) Migrants in EU Farm to Fork Labour Markets
Promoting a Dialogue on Migration
Farming Futures: Legal Migration and the Agricultural Green Transition in the EU and North Africa
Skills for Tomorrow: Addressing Labour Shortages and Boosting Competitiveness in the EU

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Common European Asylum System, refugee law, migrants' integration, multiculturalism, politics of migration, EU citizens rights, free movement

CURRENT POSITIONS

Visiting Professor, University of Antwerp
Policy Analyst

EDUCATION

PhD in Law, European University Institute
LLM in Comparative, European and International Laws, European University Institute, Florence
MA in International Comparative Legal Studies (with Distinction), School of Oriental and African Studies

LANGUAGES

Italian, English, French (Intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate), Hindi (basic)

COMMENTARY
Jun 10, 2026
by Virginie Jacob, Helena Hahn, Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
To the Point
May 06, 2026
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
EPC ROUND-UP
Mar 13, 2026
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Amanda Paul, Eric Maurice, Paul Taylor, Almut Möller, Emma Woodford, Stefan Šipka, Paweł Świeboda, Varg Folkman, Elixabete Arrieta, Mihai Sebastian Chihaia
BOOK
Dec 18, 2024
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Andreina De Leo, Evangelia (Lilian) Tsourdi, Helena Hahn, Daniel Thym, Philippe De Bruycker, Eleonora Milazzo
COMPENDIUM
Jun 05, 2024
by Corina Stratulat, Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Berta López Domènech, Danielle Brady, Mihai Sebastian Chihaia, Philipp Lausberg, Brooke Moore, Chiara Scalamandrè, Riccardo Bosticco, Xheimina Dervishi, Matteo Gorgoni, Levente Kocsis, Juraj Majcin, Liza Saris, Raul Villegas
COMMENTARY
Jun 04, 2024
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Evangelia (Lilian) Tsourdi, Helena Hahn
DISCUSSION PAPER
Oct 14, 2022
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Marie De Somer
POLICY INSIGHTS
Feb 23, 2022
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Silvia Carta
2021 MEDAM Assessment Report
May 28, 2021
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Matthias Lücke, Martin Ruhs, Saime Özçürümez
POLICY UPDATE
Dec 09, 2020
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer, Helena Hahn
POLICY UPDATE
Sep 18, 2020
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer, Helena Hahn
POLICY UPDATE
May 25, 2020
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer, Helena Hahn
PUBLICATION
Mar 03, 2020
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer, Nicolò Maganza
PUBLICATION
Dec 17, 2019
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer, Nicolò Maganza
PUBLICATION
Oct 15, 2019
by Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Katharina Bamberg, Olivia Sundberg Diez, Marie De Somer
PUBLICATION
Jul 04, 2019
by Ilene van Brouwershaven, Katharina Bamberg, Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Marie De Somer
PUBLICATION
Apr 26, 2019
by Ilene van Brouwershaven, Katharina Bamberg, Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Marie De Somer
Belgium tightens family reunification visa rules

Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre, said, “When legal family routes close or stall, some may try other channels, including irregular migration, which adds to pressure on reception capacity.” 

The Economic Times
Aug 25, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
9 EU states urge migration law rethink at Europe's top court

Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, a senior migration researcher with the European Policy Centre, said the European Court of Human Rights is not the primary driver of problems EU states face when trying to deport criminals.

"Neither European law nor the convention prevent them from expelling persons who pose a security threat," he explained.

Deutsche Welle
May 26, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
L'impatto sull'UE delle elezioni tedesche

Nell'ottava puntata di "Bruxelles t’amo non t’amo", il talk show settimanale di Euronews, gli ospiti sono Giuseppe Guerini Presidente della Confederazione europea delle cooperative (Cecop), Francesca Basso, corrispondente da Bruxelles del Corriere della Sera e Alberto Horst Neidhardt, analista dello European Policy Center.

Euronews
Mar 01, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
POST-ASSAD SYRIA: THE EU'S APPROACH TO SYRIAN RETURNS COULD MARK A TURNING POINT IN ITS MIGRATION POLICY

A month after the end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal rule, the official EU response remains largely confined to the announcement of assistance for development and economic stabilisation. 

European Economic and Social Committee
Jan 13, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
POST-ASSAD SYRIA: THE EU'S APPROACH TO SYRIAN RETURNS COULD MARK A TURNING POINT IN ITS MIGRATION POLICY

A month after the end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal rule, the official EU response remains largely confined to the announcement of assistance for development and economic stabilisation. 

European Economic and Social Committee
Jan 13, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
Que s’est-il passé en Europe cette semaine (semaine 6 au 12 janvier) ?

L’attentat de Magdebourg, la bascule vers le thème de l’immigration. 

Eurosorbonne
Jan 12, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
The 'enormous cost' of returning Syrians from Germany

The desire to review the status of Syrians in Germany could come at a high cost, warns Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre. “Pursuing this decision and conducting status reviews would be very expensive, as it must be done on an individual basis,” Neidhardt explained.  

Euractiv
Jan 09, 2025
With: Alberto-Horst Neidhardt
Hell or high water: Tackling Europe's migration dilemma
Hell or high water: Tackling Europe's migration dilemma
Jan 31, 2024
RTE
INTERVIEW
Schengen Zone: Are border controls making a comeback?
Schengen Zone: Are border controls making a comeback?
Oct 02, 2023
Euronews
INTERVIEW
«Les discussions autour de la migration manquent souvent de bon sens»
«Les discussions autour de la migration manquent souvent de bon sens»
Sep 13, 2023
Alter Echos
INTERVIEW
Brussels, my love? The growing ban on TikTok for government employees across the EU
Alberto-Horst Neidhardt participated in Euronews' talk show, "Brussels, my love?". The episode focused on the recent proposals of the EU Commission to increase returns of rejected asylum requests in Europe. The panellists also discussed the EU institutions' decision to ban the social media app Tik Tok from their employees' work devices citing security concerns.

Watch the full episode here.
Mar 18, 2023
Euronews
PANEL DISCUSSION
Europe's fragile shield
Alberto‑Horst Neidhardt​ was quoted in an article titled ‘Europe's fragile shield' published by Weekendavisen -a Danish weekly newspaper. Find the article here
Mar 12, 2020
QUOTE
European Union-Mexico Think Tanks Dialogue Initiative
Alberto Neidhardt took part in the European Union-Mexico Think Tanks Dialogue Initiative organised by the EU Delegation in Mexico. Speakers analysed migration trends and the human rights implications of current migration and asylum policies. The intervention of Alberto focused on the risks which follow from restrictive policies whose success is measured exclusively in terms of (reduced) numbers of irregular arrivals. He argued that policies are needed to facilitate safe, regular, and orderly migration. In light of this, he critically assessed the state of play in the cooperation between the EU and third countries and, more specifically, the conditionality approach in accessing EU funds. He proposed that the upcoming EU budget is used to strengthen asylum systems in border areas in full respect of the right to access international protection, and emphasised that corresponding suspension clauses should be added to international agreements with third countries.
Jan 20, 2020 , Mexico
EU Delegation in Mexico
POLICY DIALOGUE
The European experience to address the migration flows challenges
Alberto Neidhardt was invited by the Comisión de Relaciones Exteriores (Commission of Foreign Affairs) of the Mexican Congress to discuss the European experience in migration and asylum. Repressive measures aiming at reducing the numbers of arrivals will not work in a new decade which will be characterised by large population movements, he argued. In light of this, Alberto presented some of the core critical elements in the recent European experience in managing migration flows, drawing on the added value, and shortcomings, of the Common European Asylum System. He emphasised that it is essential to strengthen national systems in European borderlands in order to deal effectively with large population movements, instead of using resources for preventing mobility altogether. Restraining migration flows thanks to close partnerships with countries of origins and transit may only lead to worsening humanitarian conditions in border areas. In his discussion with congresswomen and men, Alberto pointed out that closer cooperation among states remains essential, but that restricting migration should not be the overriding concern. The intervention and discussion can be watched here 
Jan 19, 2020 , Mexico
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
PANEL DISCUSSION
International Law Association, Regional Conference
Alberto Neidhardt presented the paper ‘The Fragmentation of the European family: Is There Life, and Free Movement, after Marriage?’. The paper examines questions related to the cross-border mobility of same-sex couples and of opposite-sex persons who are in non-marital unions. Instead of focusing their work on the recognition of marital status, a significant, but controversial symbolic move that ends up excluding unmarried couples, judicial authorities, advocacy groups, and scholars should look at the promising albeit unexplored recognition of the cross-border effects of all family relations.
Sep 12, 2019 , Portoroz, Slovenia, Slovenija
International Law Association, Slovene Branch
CONFERENCE
Privatising Migration
Alberto Neidhardt took part in the workshop ‘Privatising Migration: A Solution for the European Union?’ which the European Policy Centre co-organised with the Human Rights Centre of the University of Nottingham. Participants in the workshop discussed the origins and implications of the growing trend of outsourcing migration control to non-state organisations.
Jun 17, 2019 , United Kingdom
ROUNDTABLE
Migration in Europe, Problems and Remedies
Alberto Neidhardt gave a speech on the challenges of migration and asylum in Europe. He discussed policy responses and reform proposals of the recent past, and the likely future of the Common European Asylum System in the light of the nuanced results of the European Parliamentary Elections of May 2019.
May 30, 2019 , Kaliningrad, Russia, Rossiya
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Immanuel Kant Federal Baltic University, Kaliningrad
CONFERENCE
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