Economisch en sociaal comité EU en Griekenland bespreken migratie beleid (en)

On 9-10 February 2010, the European Economic and Social Committee i (EESC) and the Greek Economic and Social Council (ESC) will jointly host a high-level international conference aiming to identify ways of tackling the perennial issue of migration in Mediterranean countries.

At a time when a common immigration policy is driven by both the need to ensure an optimal management of migratory flows in response to demographic challenges in Europe and a concomitant need to combat illegal immigration, the conference's main goal is to examine all dimensions of this highly complex issue. In a comprehensive opinion on the immigration policy, the EESC proposed last year ten principles that should underpin any actions in this area: respect of fundamental rights, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and partnership with third countries, just to name a few. In the same vein, the Greek Economic and Social Council have recently adopted an own-initiative Opinion on the issue.

The conference will be addressed by Greek Deputy Prime Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, Greek Ombudsman, Georgios Kaminis, and President of the Hellenic Migration Policy Institute (IMEPO), Alexandros Zavos, It will be opened by Christos Polyzogopoulos, President of the Greek Economic and Social Council, Georgios Dassis, President of the EESC's Employees Group and Antonio Marzano, President of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) and President of the Italian Economic and Labour Council. The closing speech will be given by the EESC President, Mario Sepi and Christos Polyzogopoulos. Other panels will include Presidents of national Economic and Social Councils, national authorities, academics and other stakeholders. The event will take place at the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens and will start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 9th February 2010.

At the conference discussion will focus mainly on the challenges for the Common European immigration and asylum policy in view of the impact of migration for Mediterranean Member - States of the EU. Participants will examine challenges to the European policy on migration and asylum, the economic dimensions of migration, interregional perspectives for co-operation and polices for second-generation immigrants. This approach is in line with the EESC-European Commission initiative to launch a European Integration Forum that gives representatives of civil society a say on integration issues, which, in turn, feeds into EU level decisions.