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As the movement of people continues to shape Europe’s social and political landscape, BRIDGES explored the forces that drive narratives around migration and their far-reaching consequences. It hoped to uncover how these stories take root, gain dominance in political discourse, and shape public opinion – and its findings offer an alternative view.
“The current narratives about migration tend to focus overwhelmingly on crisis and emergency, creating a perception of migration as a problem,” highlights Blanca Garcés, senior researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB).
“This overshadows the reality that migration is also about opportunity, connection and contribution.”
Redefining stories
To challenge crisis-driven narratives, BRIDGES set out to understand how these stories are constructed and how they shape public perception. The project also examined how narratives are spread across media, policymaking and public opinion, identifying key influencers and their impact. With these insights, the project hoped to equip policymakers and society with the tools needed to counter harmful narratives and prevent destabilising consequences.
One significant finding was the role of the media in reinforcing polarising narratives. “It often frames migration through the lens of ‘us versus them’, emphasising borders, threats or economic burdens,” says Garcés. “This amplifies stereotypes, painting an incomplete picture of a multifaceted reality.”
But opportunities for change do exist: “We found that when migration is depicted through human-centred stories – families seeking safety, individuals contributing to communities – public attitudes shift,” Garcés adds. These personal stories, she says, can create empathy and bridge divides.
Policy and storytelling
The project also discovered that policy choices significantly shape public attitudes toward migration, with restrictive policies often reinforcing negative narratives. Conversely, policies that emphasise inclusion and opportunity can help change the conversation.
To explore this further, BRIDGES collaborated with journalists, artists and educators to humanise the migrant experience. Community-led initiatives, such as a hip-hop contest, mural project and photography exhibition, brought migrant stories to life in powerful and relatable ways that resonated with the public.
A project that made waves
According to Garcés, BRIDGES was much more high profile than they had anticipated. “We got quite a lot of attention on this project,” she notes. She attributed this to the current political climate, with high levels of electoral support for the far right in several European countries.
With growing concerns over how to frame migration narratives, the project’s findings have been in high demand. “It seems that everybody is struggling with how to talk about immigration in the new context, with how to counter the extreme right, and how to develop new narratives,” Garcés explains.
Continuing the conversation
BRIDGES was also prolific in its output: the project produced three podcasts, three policy briefs, seven op-eds, nine infographics, 11 videos, 32 working papers, and a multilingual toolkit with recommendations for social organisations, offering guidelines on talking about migration in a way that avoids harmful stereotypes.
Although the project has formally ended, its influence continues. Garcés has been invited to discussions at numerous institutions, including the European Commission and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Additionally, she is currently working on a new research project that focuses further on the politicisation of migration.
With migration remaining a key issue in Europe, BRIDGES has not only contributed to understanding migration narratives, but continues to provide valuable insights into how they shape public discourse and policy decisions. The conversation it sparked is far from over.
“Migration is not a crisis to be managed but a reality to be embraced,” Garcés concludes, “one story at a time.”