Bringing Research to the Public: GAPs member Dr. Mateusz Krępa on “Kanał Zero” Debates Migration and Returns
Screenshot from the debate on Kanał Zero
On 25 July, Dr. Mateusz Krępa contributed to a high-profile public debate on migration hosted by Kanał Zero, a rapidly growing independent media platform in Poland with over two million subscribers. The episode focused on recent tensions at the Polish-German border, where increased returns of migrants from Germany have sparked political controversy and the emergence of vigilante-style border monitoring initiatives.
Dr. Krępa’s participation brought an essential research-based perspective to the discussion. Drawing on findings from the GAPs Project—particularly related to analysis of legal frameworks and governance practices around return migration—he offered an in-depth explanation of the legal foundations of return procedures within the EU and clarified the complexities of the Polish migration system. His intervention helped situate current events in a broader European and institutional context, contributing evidence-based insights to a conversation often dominated by emotional and ideologically-driven claims.
While other guests—Szymon Kacprzak from the left-wing Razem party and Jacek Wrona from the informal Borders Defence Movement (ROG)—focused on normative positions and engaged in emotionally charged exchanges, Dr. Krępa emphasised the need to improve the effectiveness and fairness of return mechanisms rather than resorting to securitised and polarising approaches to migration.
The GAPs project’s aim to deconstruct dominant narratives and uncover the political and institutional logics of return governance was clearly reflected in Dr. Krępa’s approach. His presence on such a widely viewed platform significantly contributed to the public understanding of migration governance and the importance of legal-institutional clarity in addressing contested migration issues.
Watch the full debate (in Polish): Kanał Zero on YouTube