Making Cooperation Possible: Narratives, Trust and Moral Frameworks in Europe's Asylum and Migration Debate

This policy paper presents the main findings and recommendations of the Horizon Europe project ACRONYM (Advancing Cooperation on Asylum and Migration in Europe). Drawing on comparative public opinion research, focus groups conducted across five European countries, a survey of religious leaders, and a series of policy dialogues, the paper examines the factors that shape public perceptions of migration and influence the prospects for cooperation on asylum and migration across Europe. The analysis highlights the role of narratives, trust, and moral frameworks in shaping migration debates across Europe. It argues that disagreements on migration are often rooted not in policy design or technical capacity, but in divergent understandings of identity, solidarity, responsibility, and social cohesion. The paper introduces the concept of the "imaginary migrant" to explain how migration can become politically salient even in contexts with limited direct experience of migration. Based on the project's findings, the paper offers recommendations for policymakers, civil society organisations, religious actors, and communicators seeking to foster more constructive and cooperative approaches to migration in Europe. This publication was produced within the Horizon Europe project ACRONYM (Advancing Cooperation on Asylum and Migration in Europe), Grant Agreement No. 101079420.