The PERCEPTIONS Handbook. A guide to understanding migration narratives & addressing migration challenges

This handbook was created to provide information and tools to different stakeholders within the field of migration, based on empirical research conducted as part of the PERCEPTIONS research project.

PERCEPTIONS is a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Programme that conducts multidisciplinary research and innovative actions addressing questions related to migration. The project brings together 26 partners from different institutions (universities, research organisations, non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations and border authorities) and from 15 different European and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.

The PERCEPTIONS project investigates the various links between perceptions, information channels, challenges and policies related to migration. It explores how narratives, discourses and perceptions of Europe and of individual European countries1 influence decisions to migrate as well as experiences of migration, how these perceptions circulate and what challenges may arise throughout the migration process. Finally, the project identifies practices that can contribute to mitigating some of these challenges. Such interventions can involve migrants, front-line practitioners and local communities, or address the issue at the level of policy and legislation.

The handbook is designed as an easy-to-use resource that aims to provide:

1. Key insights and responses to common questions about the role of perceptions and narratives in decisions to migrate to Europe and subsequent experiences of migration, based on insights from the PERCEPTIONS project.
2. Creative tools and good practices that tackle some of the challenges related to migration by engaging with communities at the local level.
3. A review of immigration policies and recommendations for improvements as provided by the stakeholders we interviewed, followed by policy briefs compiled by the PERCEPTIONS research team.