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Hearing on the Future of Migration and Asylum in Europe

Date: December 3 Time: 09.00-15.30 Place: Renaissance Hotel, Rue du Parnasse 19, Brussels

 

9.00-9.30 Registration and coffee

09.30-10.00 Keynote speeches

  • Heather Roy, President for Social Platform
  • Mr Laurent Muschel, Director of Migration and Asylum, DG Home Affairs, European Commission
  • Doris Peschke, Chair of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration

 

10.00-11.15 Session I Access to Europe: challenges and tools linked to entry into the EU

What are the challenges as regards entry into the EU for third country nationals? What priorities should be put forward to build a truly ‘open Europe’? How can current border management and detention policies and practise be amended to respect the needs and rights of all migrants? How can we ensure legal labour migration that guarantee protection against abuse and exploitation? How to guarantee an effective right to asylum in the EU? How to tackle the different aspects of smuggling and trafficking in human beings?

Chair: Anaïs Faure Atger, Senior Migration Advisor, Red Cross EU Office

Speakers:

  • Anneliese Baldaccini, Senior Executive Officer, Asylum and Migration, Amnesty International European Institutions Office
  • Torsten Moritz, Executive Secretary Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe
  • Maria Hennessy, Senior Legal Officer, The European Council on Refugees and Exiles
  • Karolina Babicka, Policy & Advocacy Officer Migration and Asylum at Caritas-Europe

 

11.15-11.30 Coffee break

11.30-12.45 Session II Access to rights for migrants living in the EU

How can the EU remove barriers in order for migrants to enjoy their human, social, economic and cultural rights?  Integration is a two-way process, how can this be achieved? How can the EU and its member states meet their international human rights obligations and bridge the gap between law, implementation and practice?  What tools are needed to solve the problem of accessing employment and services in the EU?

Chair: Jan Niessen, Director Migration Policy Group (MPG)

Speakers:

  • Vincent Caron, Policy Officer at European Anti-Poverty Network
  • Lara Natale, Coordinator of the European Network of Migrant Women
  • Catherine Mallet, Policy Officer, Eurodiaconia
  • Freek Spinnewijn, Director of the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless

 

12.45-13.45  Lunch break

13.45-15.15 Session III The future of migration and asylum in Europe

Looking 10 – 20 years ahead what migration and asylum policies do we want to see in Europe? What are the transversal and long term trends and challenges across Europe that needs to be addressed now? How can we reverse growing anti-immigration, xenophobic and racist trends in Europe? How can we prevent Fortress Europe from growing?

Chair: Yves Pascouau, Senior Policy Analyst, Head of programme European Migration and Diversity, European Policy Centre

Speakers:

  • Paul d'Auchamp, Deputy Regional Representative for Europe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Shannon Pfohman, Deputy Director at European Network Against Racism
  • Michele LeVoy, Director of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants
  • Kris Pollet, Senior Legal & Policy Officer, The European Council on Refugees and Exiles

 

15.15-15.30   Concluding remarks

  • Diane Schmitt, Head of Unit, Immigration and Integration, DG Home, the European Commission
  • Doris Peschke, Chair of the European NGO Platform on Asylum and Migration