Research Project SOLACE

The SOLACE project addresses a significant and under-researched dimension of health inequality in Europe: access to healthcare for highly vulnerable migrant populations. Although an estimated 3–6 million undocumented migrants reside in European countries, existing research has predominantly focused on adults of working age. Far less attention has been paid to undocumented children, elderly migrants, and individuals in precarious legal situations, including asylum seekers, temporary protection holders, and migrants with unstable residence permits.

Across European contexts, healthcare entitlements for these groups vary considerably and are often restricted to emergency or short-term care. Preventive services, vaccination coverage, sexual and reproductive healthcare, paediatric care, and long-term treatment for age-related conditions frequently remain inaccessible or inconsistently implemented. These gaps limit the capacity of policymakers and healthcare providers to develop inclusive, evidence-based responses to growing social and demographic diversity.
SOLACE brings together researchers from Charles University, University of Geneva, Heidelberg University, and University of Copenhagen within the framework of the 4EU+ Alliance. The project applies a comparative qualitative case study design grounded in a multi-level governance perspective. By examining how healthcare access is defined and implemented at national, regional, and municipal levels, it seeks to identify structural barriers, implementation gaps, and enabling practices across diverse welfare and migration regimes.
In addition to generating comparative empirical evidence and policy-relevant recommendations, SOLACE prioritizes capacity building. Early-career researchers are actively involved in all stages of the research process under senior mentorship, contributing to sustainable academic collaboration and strengthening expertise in migration and health within the 4EU+ network.