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Udvalget for Udlændinge- og Integrationspolitik 2013-14
UUI Alm.del Bilag 132
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DRAFT PROGRAMME

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is dedicating its annual flagship event,

the Fundamental Rights Conference (FRC), to the importance of a fundamental rights-

based approach to EU migration policy.

The

Strategic Guidelines for legislative and policy planning in the area of freedom,

security and justice,

adopted by the European Council in June 2014 , identified the

need for “an efficient and well-managed migration, asylum and border policy” in the

EU that is underpinned by “full respect for fundamental rights”. It recognised that the

EU is “faced with challenges such as instability in many parts of the world as well as

global and European demographic trends”, and identified the need in the EU for “an

efficient and well-managed migration, asylum and border policy”. It also noted that “a

comprehensive approach is required, optimising the benefits of legal migration and of-

fering protection to those in need while tackling irregular migration resolutely and

managing the EU’s external borders efficiently”. As the guidelines emphasise, it is im-

portant to “support Member States’ efforts to pursue active integration policies, which

foster social cohesion and economic dynamism”.

The Fundamental Rights Conference will highlight key fundamental rights challenges

that need to be considered when implementing the Strategic Guidelines. It will discuss

means of alleviating the effects of the current migration pressures at the EU’s external

sea and land borders, while fully respecting fundamental rights. The conference will

also debate the best ways of promoting social inclusion and migrant integration, in or-

der to create an environment in which migrants can take full advantage of their own

potential, to the benefit not only of themselves but also of EU society as a whole.

The high-level event is co-hosted together with the

Italian Presidency of the Council

of the European Union.

It brings together over 250 policy makers and practitioners

from across the EU, including representatives from EU institutions, international or-

ganisations, national governments and parliaments, law enforcement, civil society and

many more.

OBJECTIVES

•

To ensure fundamental rights remain at the

centre of migration policy in the EU.

• To discuss the fundamental rights at stake in the

practical implementation of the Strategic

Guidelines for legislative and policy planning in

the area of freedom, security and justice, which

were adopted by the European Council in June

2014.

• To build on the work of the Task Force

Mediterranean by supporting the development

of fundamental rights-based activities that

address current humanitarian emergencies at

the EU external borders.

• To address migrant integration from a

fundamental rights perspective in order to

create inclusive societies, that are free of racial

and other forms of discrimination, helping both

migrants and recipient countries to develop.

European Council, Conclusions, EUCO 79/14, 26/27 June 2014

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Background

The EU is part of a globalised and interconnected

world where migrant and refugee flows are on the

rise. These are not only due to instability, war and

poverty, but also respond to demographic trends and

labour market gaps in the EU. Asylum, migration and

integration, have become closely related to the

phenomena of xenophobia and intolerance, and all

these continue to dominate much of the fundamental

rights debate and concerns across the Union. To meet

the challenges faced by EU Societies, policy responses

to the movement of people need to keep

fundamental rights at the centre of the decision-

making process.

mental rights and the EU values of equality, plural-

ism, non-discrimination, diversity, and social cohe-

sion.

A proactive approach that builds on these values

and promotes inclusion can help to reduce racial

discrimination and intolerance, dispel tension, and

strengthen security.

Protecting fundamental rights

is important to empower migrants and thereby

provide them with the tools to lead economically

productive lives that are to the advantage of

everyone in the EU. Strengthening the EU as an

area of strong fundamental rights protection will

ensure that the EU continues to remain an

attractive region for high skilled workers as well as

necessary workers, and a space of freedom,

security and justice for all.

Borders: guarding EU’s external borders while

protecting the rights of migrants and refugees

The EU’s external borders are the gateway to the

European Union. People come to Europe to seek

safety from persecution and war, or simply a better

life. With limited access to legal channels of

migration, many people - whether asylum seekers,

children, trafficking victims, or other migrants - fall

prey to smugglers and traffickers, making them

vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Once in the EU,

some are granted protection, some are returned, and

some remain in an EU Member State without legal

status.

There have recently been significant efforts by the EU

and Member States, in particular Italy, to save the

lives of migrants arriving in the EU. The creation in

October 2013 of the

Task Force Mediterranean

was a

swift and important response that set out a course of

action to address unsafe migration at sea. However,

the pressure on the EU’s borders, both sea and land,

points to the urgent need for a more comprehensive,

sustainable, coordinated and effective European

response that uses a fundamental rights-oriented

approach to deal with all aspects of migration from

cause to effect. Only in this way can we ensure

respect for the inviolable right to human dignity.

The conference discussions will build on

FRA’s reports on migration, asylum and

borders, including the new reports on the

fundamental rights situation at the EU’s air

and land borders.

•

‘Fundamental rights at Europe’s southern sea

borders’

• ‘Criminalisation

of migrants in an irregular

situation and of persons engaging with them’

• ‘Coping

with a fundamental rights emergency -

The situation of persons crossing the Greek land

border in an irregular manner’

• ‘Fundamental

rights of migrants in an irregular

situation in the European Union’

• ‘Guardianship

for children deprived of parental

care - A handbook to reinforce guardianship

systems to cater for the specific needs of child

victims of trafficking’

• ‘Handbook

on European law relating to asylum,

borders and immigration’

• ‘Inequalities

and multiple discrimination in

access to and quality of healthcare’

• ‘European

Union Minorities and Discrimination

Survey (EU-MIDIS) Main Results Report’

• ‘Racism,

discrimination, intolerance and

extremism: learning from experiences in Greece

and Hungary’

Building an inclusive society to the advantage of all.

As intolerance and extremism have grown in many

countries across the EU, the situation of migrants

living and working there has become increasingly

vulnerable. Efforts to actively promote migrant in-

clusion into EU societies, as well as to combat rac-

ism and xenophobia, need to be guided by funda-

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DRAFT PROGRAMME

MONDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2014, CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

12.30 – 14.00

REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE

Entrance: Via Campo Marzio 78, Aula dei Gruppi, Palazzo Montecitorio, Chamber of Depu-

ties

WELCOME

Laura Boldrini,

President of the Chamber of Deputies, Italy

Morten Kjaerum,

Director, FRA

14.30 – 15.00

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Federica Mogherini,

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs

(tbc)

Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein,

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (tbc)

15.00- 15.30

15.30 – 16.15

COFFEE BREAK

Ensuring the rights of migrants in the EU: from vulnerability to empowerment

Presentations by:

Nils Muižnieks,

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe

Aydan Özoguz,

Minister of State, Commissioner for Immigration, Refugees and

Integration, Germany

14.00 – 14.30

16.15 – 17.45

PANEL DEBATE:

Towards a fundamental rights-based approach to migration and integration: from arrival

to inclusion

Focus:

A discussion on the fundamental rights challenges in the area of migration, from arrival to inclusion in the

societies of the EU. How can a fundamental rights based approach to migration contribute to the EU’s future?

The panel will also address EU and Member States’ responses to migration and migrant integration policies: how

to ensure that such policies are fundamental rights-compliant and compatible with the vision for a cohesive EU

society oriented to inclusive growth?

Introduction to the panel debate by

Rainer Münz,

Head, Group Basic Research, Erste Group Bank

Matthias Ruete,

Director General Home Affairs, European Commission

Claude Moraes,

Chair Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, European Parliament (tbc)

Bernard Cazeneuve,

Minister of Interior, France (tbc)

Senator Luigi Manconi,

Chair of the Extraordinary Commission for the promotion and protection of

human rights, Italian Senate

Päivi Räsänen,

Minister of the Interior, Finland (tbc)

European Economic Social Committee

(tbc)

19.00

20.00

Shuttle to venue of day II

RECEPTION

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TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATION

08.30 - 09.00

Registration (late comers only)

Scuola Superiore dell’Amministrazione dell’Interno (S.S.A.I)

Via Veientana, 386 – 00189 Roma

PANEL DEBATE:

Fundamental rights challenges and considerations in the field of migration, border

management, asylum and migrant integration

09.00 - 10.00

Focus:

A discussion on key fundamental rights challenges and considerations that need to be taken into account in the

field of migration, asylum, border management and migrant integration, when implementing the

Strategic

Guidelines for legislative and policy planning in the area of freedom, security and justice.

Panellists:

Eva Åkerman Börje,

Ambassador, Secretariat for the Swedish Chairmanship of the Global Forum on

Migration and Development (tbc)

Mario Morcone,

Prefect, Chief of Civil Liberties and Immigration, Ministry of Interior, Italy (tbc)

Nicolas J. Beger,

Director, Amnesty International European Institutions Office (tbc)

Vincent Cochetel,

Director, UNHCR- Bureau for Europe

François Crépeau,

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, OHCHR (tbc)

Committee of the Regions

(tbc)

10.00- 10.30

COFFEE BREAK

10.30 – 11.00

Testimonies from:

Özlem Sara Cekic,

Member of Parliament, Danish Socialist People's Party (tbc)

Peter Bossman,

Mayor of the town of Piran, Slovenia

11.00 – 13.00

WORKING GROUPS (in

parallel)

Working group I:

A rights-based approach to border surveillance, including cooperation with third countries

Chaired by: Giovanni Pinto, Director of the Central Unit for Immigration and Border Police Management, Public

Security Department, Frontex Management Board, Italy

(tbc)

Panellists:

•

DG Home, Border Unit, European Commission

•

Frontex

•

UNHCR Spain

•

Ministry for Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, Morocco

Focus:

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The discussion will focus on border control and the surveillance of sea as well as land borders, and particularly on

cooperation with third countries. The

Task Force Mediterranean

includes cooperation with third countries as one

of the most effective ways to tackle irregular migration. Building upon FRA’s work, the discussions will seek to offer

guidance on ensuring that fundamental rights are upheld in joint activities with third countries in the context of

land as well as sea border surveillance. The discussions will also address the fundamental rights challenges emerg-

ing immediately upon arrival, such as reception conditions, use of detention, ensuring needs of children, identifica-

tion of survivors of torture and suspected victims of trafficking and fair screening processes.

Working group II:

Smuggling as a means of last resort to enter the EU

Chaired by: Robert Visser, Director of EASO

(tbc)

Focus:

Due to the difficulties faced by third country nationals to enter the EU legally, migrants and people seeking protec-

tion fall prey to criminal organisations that abuse and exploit them in return for promises to transport them into

the EU. How to combat smuggling will be discussed from a law enforcement, fundamental rights, as well as law of

the sea perspective. Topics will also include ways of ensuring that rescue and provision of humanitarian assistance

are excluded from punishment for smuggling in human beings, using the findings and analysis of FRA’s paper

Crim-

inalisation of migrants in an irregular situation and of persons engaging with them.

Large numbers of smuggled

people and irregular arrivals have given rise to calls for EU solidarity and relocation. The workshop will also reflect

recent discussions on legal ways to enter Europe. Limited resettlement opportunities challenge the capacity of re-

gional protection programmes, and resettlement or protected entry are integral parts of any refugee policy.

Panellists:

•

European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

•

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

•

UNODC, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section

•

Human Rights at Sea International Initiative

•

Community of Sant'Egidio

Working group III:

Protection of children in the context of migration

Chaired by: DG JUST, European Commission

Focus:

Children migrate from their country of origin to and within the territory of the EU in search of survival, security,

improved standards of living, education, economic opportunities, protection from exploitation and abuse, family

reunification or a combination of these factors. They may travel with their family or independently or with non-

family members. They may be seeking asylum, be victims of trafficking, or be undocumented migrants. The sta-

tus of children on the move may differ at various stages on their journey and they may encounter many differing

situations of vulnerability. The workshop will address how to fully reflect child protection standards in border pro-

cedures, such as identification of needs, screening procedures, reception conditions, detention practices, referrals

to child protection authorities and appointment of a guardian and it will also look at responsibility for unaccompa-

nied children in transnational co-operation. The discussions will take place against the backdrop of preparatory

work for the forthcoming Commission’s Communication on integrated child protection systems and the FRA hand-

book on Guardianship for Child Victims of Trafficking. The workshop will take account of lessons learnt from recent

EU-funded projects.

Panellists:

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•

UNICEF

European Committee of Social Rights, Council of Europe

Children’s Rights Ombudsman in the French Community of Belgium and Chair of the European Network of

Ombudspersons for Children

Missing Children

Immigration and Integration Unit, DG HOME

EASO

Working group IV:

Migrant integration in the EU: a fundamental rights’ perspective

Chaired by: Prof. Han Entzinger, FRA Scientific Committee

Focus:

Human rights constitute the foundation of the EU and need to be clearly linked to migrant integration policies; 10

years after the EU’s

Common Basic Principles for Migrant Integration

came into effect. The workshop will discuss

how integration of migrants can be taken forward from a fundamental rights perspective. The discussion will look

therefore into strategies of social inclusion and migrant integration in the EU and its Member States towards the

targets of the

EU 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

in light of fundamental rights’ stand-

ards. The overall aim will be to find feasible ways to assess, support and promote national migrant integration pol-

icies in this direction, boosting both the economies as well as social cohesion in the EU.

Panellists:

•

DG Home, Immigration and Integration unit, European Commission

•

Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

•

Hessen's Ministry for Justice, Integration and Europe

•

European Network of Migrant Women

•

European Trade Union Confederation

•

ILO

Working group V:

Combating xenophobia and intolerance in public discourse

Chaired by: Ufficio Nazionale Antidiscriminazioni Razziali (UNAR), Italy

Focus:

Victimisation of migrants by hate crime and discrimination – and the fuelling of intergroup tensions and extremism

- is closely related to xenophobia and intolerance expressed in the public arena. Therefore, combating hate crime

and intolerance in the public sphere is crucial for promoting inclusive and cohesive societies to the benefit of all

residents. The workshop will discuss counteractive measures and strategies especially from a local, regional and

national perspective.

Panellists:

•

Islamic Community Union (Italy)

•

European Coalition of Cities against Racism

•

Associazione Nazionale Stampa Interculturale

•

No Hate Speech (Council of Europe)

13.00-14.30

LUNCH

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14.30-16.00

REPORTING FROM THE WORKING GROUPS

16.00-16.30

16.30–17.00

COFFEE BREAK

CONCLUSIONS

Angelino Alfano,

Minister of Interior, Italy (tbc)

EU Commissioner for Justice, Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

(tbc)

Maija Sakslin,

FRA Management Board Chair