Udlændinge- og Integrationsudvalget 2017-18
UUI Alm.del Bilag 7
Offentligt
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Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and humane
migration across the Mediterranean
Conference for parliaments from the European Union and from the Mediterranean region organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, the Parliament of Malta and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
16 and 17 November 2017, Grand Hotel Excelsior - Grand Ballroom, Valletta (Malta)
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
In recent years, a growing number of people have made their way to Europe to flee on-going
conflicts and repression or seek a livelihood in the absence of any economic opportunities in
their countries.
The significant migration flows around the Mediterranean have an important impact on
receiving, transit and countries of origin. Parliaments and their members have a critical role
to play in adopting adequate legislation and seeing to it that effective policies are in place
and implemented to ensure that migration is governed in a fair, smart and humane way and
creating public support for such actions.
The proposed conference aims to bring together parliamentarians from the region in order to
discuss concerted responses to current migration challenges and opportunities. In doing so,
it takes inspiration from the recommendations contained in the IPU Declaration of October
2015 on “The Imperative for Fairer, Smarter and more Humane Migration” and the New York
Declaration on Refugees and Migrants adopted at the United Nations in September 2016.
The outcome of the conference will also contribute to a parliamentary perspective on the
negotiation of a Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration that will take place at
the United Nations between February and July 2018 and discussions on a Global Compact
on Refugees in 2018.
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Thursday, 16 November 2017
8 a.m.
Registration
9 a.m.
Opening Ceremony
9.45 a.m.
Key-note address on “Migration across the Mediterranean: the need for concerted,
coherent and holistic action”
10.15 a.m.
Coffee Break
10.30 a.m.
Session I: Ensure fair, smart and dignified labour migration: challenges and
opportunities
This session seeks to present trends on labour migration across the Mediterranean. It seeks to
explore ways to further promote labour migration that is beneficial to migrants, receiving
countries and countries of origin alike. The session will address the effects of existing bilateral
agreements to channel migration. It will look at regional and national policies on labour
migration and identify opportunities to expand regular labour migration. It will also look at
lessons learnt in tackling labour exploitation.
12.30 p.m.
Lunch
2 p.m.
Session II: Offer a safe haven to refugees
This session seeks to explore ways to guarantee that refugees under the 1951 Refugee
Convention and its 1967 Protocol continue to receive swift and adequate protection. It will
seek to address questions related to where and how asylum claims can best be handled with
respect for due process, to inter-state solidarity to accept refugees as well as to the completion
of a common European Asylum System. The session will also look at the importance of social
and economic integration of refugees and look at concrete national examples of successful
integration.
4 p.m.
Coffee break
4.15 p.m.
Session III: Promote sensible political and societal discourse around migration
This session will address the importance of politicians speaking out against xenophobia and
racism and combatting stereotypes, the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation and criminal
legislation against hate speech. The session will also look at ways to expand and use
empirically-based knowledge and foster balanced public debate on the causes, challenges and
benefits of migration, so as to inform national policies. It will look at best practices of including
migrant perspectives in political and public discussions.
6.15 p.m.
End of Day 1
7.30 p.m.
Dinner or Welcome Cocktail
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Friday, 17 November 2017
9.30 a.m.
Session IV: Bolster border protection and the fight against people’s smugglers
This session will deal with strategies to promote stronger border control and management,
including through the exchange of information and the sharing of responsibilities between
countries across the Mediterranean. It will look at direct ways to tackle people’s smuggling and
to protect migrants, in particular those at risk of abuse during perilous journey through the
desert or at sea, and the specific role of transit countries. This session will also look at ways to
promote an effective and dignified return policy for irregular migrants and examine interesting
examples of readmission agreements in line with applicable human rights standards.
10.30 a.m.
Coffee break
Session IV: continued
12.30 p.m.
Lunch
2 p.m.
Session V: Address the “push” factors of migration: the importance of promoting
sustainable development in countries of origin
The session seeks to address ways to promote social and economic development in countries
of origin and transit, particularly so as to promote opportunities for youth. It will look more
particularly at the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and at examples of bilateral and
regional cooperation to promote such development.
3.30 p.m.
Coffee break
3.45 p.m.
Session V: continued
4.15 p.m.
Closing session: Where do we go from here? Final reflections on migration in the
Mediterranean and their relevance for ongoing discussions on a UN Global Compact for
safe, orderly and regular migration
4.45 p.m.
Closing remarks
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Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and
humane migration across the Mediterranean
Conference for parliaments from the European Union and from the Mediterranean region organized jointly by the Inter-
Parliamentary Union, the Parliament of Malta and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
16 and 17 November 2017, Grand Hotel Excelsior - Grand Ballroom, Valletta (Malta)
PRACTICAL INFORMATION NOTE
1.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE SEMINAR
In recent years, a growing number of people have made their way to Europe to flee on-going conflicts
and repression or seek a livelihood in the absence of any economic opportunities in their countries.
The significant migration flows around the Mediterranean have an important impact on receiving,
transit and countries of origin. Parliaments and their members have a critical role to play in adopting
adequate legislation and seeing to it that effective policies are in place and are implemented to ensure
that migration is governed in a fair, smart and humane way, and in creating public support for such
actions.
The proposed conference aims to bring together parliamentarians from the region in order to discuss
concerted responses to current migration challenges and opportunities. In doing so, it takes inspiration
from the recommendations contained in the IPU Declaration of October 2015 on “The Imperative for
Fairer, Smarter and more Humane Migration” and the New York Declaration on Refugees and
Migrants adopted at the United Nations in September 2016. The outcome of the conference will also
contribute to a parliamentary perspective on the negotiation of a Global Compact for safe, orderly and
regular migration that will take place at the UN Headquarters between February and July 2018.
In doing so, the conference aims to address solutions to the following questions:
What essential pillars of migration policies respond to labour market needs while respecting the
human rights of migrants and their families, and how do receiving, transit and countries of origin
fit in?
How and where to handle asylum claims in ways that respect due process?
What lessons can be learnt in the fight against trafficking in persons, including in the area of
border management, information-sharing, and the emasculation of the smugglers’ “business
model”, and what are the implications for receiving, transit and countries of origin?
How to promote evidence-based political discussions around the impact of migration on the
labour market and national cohesion?
2.
VENUE, DATE AND PROGRAMME
The conference will be held on 16 and 17 November 2017 at the Grand Hotel Excelsior - Grand
Ballroom. Access to the conference venue is from the main entrance and all badges and seminar
documents should be collected from the registration area located in the reception area. The
programme of the seminar is attached.
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3.
PARTICIPATION
This conference is open to the parliaments from the European Union and the Mediterranean region.
These parliaments are invited to send a delegation of five members at most, gender-balanced and
reflecting the political representation of the parliament. It is recommended that the members of the
delegation work directly on migration issues in their parliaments.
4.
ORGANIZATION OF PROCEEDINGS
In keeping with IPU practice, all participants will have equal speaking rights. In order to ensure that the
discussions are as fruitful and constructive as possible, the following rules will apply:
(a)
(b)
There will be no list of speakers on any agenda item. After the experts have introduced an
agenda item, the floor will be open to participants for questions and comments.
Experience has shown that this kind of meeting does not lend itself to the reading out of
prepared statements. Subject to arrangements that the Chair may make to suit the
circumstances, oral contributions may not exceed
three minutes.
Participants may speak
several times on each item, particularly to respond to other statements.
A Rapporteur will sum up the work of the seminar at its concluding session.
(c)
The seminar proceedings will be conducted in English, French and Arabic.
5.
DOCUMENTS
Participants will receive hard copies of the experts’ presentations as they become available.
To the extent possible and for the information of participants, the IPU Secretariat will make available
background documentation on the topics under discussion.
Participants wishing to distribute relevant documentation to their colleagues will be required to provide
it in sufficient quantities and place it on a table set aside for the purpose.
6.
REGISTRATION
Invited parliaments are requested to send their list of participants attending the conference
no later
than 15 October 2017,
using the enclosed Registration Form to the following addresses:
Ms. Eleanor SCERRI
Director (International Relations)
Parliament of Malta
The Palace
Valletta VLT 1115 (Malta)
Tel.
+356 +356 2559 6321
Fax:
+ 356 255 96 400
e-mail:
[email protected]
Mr. Akiyo AFOUDA
Inter-Parliamentary Union
5, Chemin du Pommier
1218 Grand-Saconnex
Geneva (Switzerland)
Tel.:
+ 41 22 919 41 23
Fax:
+ 41 22 919 41 60
e-mail:
[email protected] / [email protected]
7.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION AND RESERVATIONS
In keeping with usual IPU practice, all matters relating to hotel reservations, travel and visas must be
dealt with by the participants themselves.
The House of Representatives (Parliament of Malta) has made a block reservation for three nights
(15, 16 and 17 November 2017) at the hotels indicated below. Participants are kindly requested to
duly complete and return the Hotel Registration Form as soon as possible and
no later than
15 October 2017, with copy to the Parliament of Malta by email to
[email protected].
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Hotel
Room type
Price in euros per room /
per night (incl. breakfast
& VAT)
Grand Hotel Excelsior 5 *
15 minutes’ walk from the City centre
Complete and return booking form to:
Promocode: IPUBB
http://www.excelsior.com.mt/#bookingengine
Single Deluxe
(Inland view)
Single Deluxe
(Partial sea view)
2
nd
person sharing supplement:
€ 20 per person / per night
€ 115
€ 135
Osborne Hotel 3*
5 minutes’ walk from the meeting venue
Email:
[email protected]
Quote the following reservation number:
IPU Meeting - reservation 45371
Standard Double - single use
(Inland view)
Standard Double/Twin
(Inland view)
Superior sea view supplement
€ 20 per room per night
Deluxe sea view supplement
€ 35 per room per night
€ 100
€ 120
Castille Hotel 3 *
15 minutes’ walk from the meeting venue
Email:
[email protected]
Single Room
Twin Room (Single Use)
€ 70
€ 120
We recommend that participants’ credit card information be sent by fax/email to the hotel only.
Please note that the Parliament of Malta does not require a copy of credit card information.
Reservations received after that date cannot be guaranteed and will depend on room availability.
Requests for hotel reservations will be treated on a first-come-first-served basis. Participants are
kindly requested to settle their bills directly with the hotel concerned.
8.
TRAVEL, ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Parliaments participating in the Conference are kindly reminded that they should make their own travel
arrangements. They will bear all costs related to their delegates’ travel and participation.
All participants are kindly requested to provide their arrival and departure details (date, time, flight no.,
etc.) on the Registration Form.
Participants are kindly advised that the organizers will not provide transportation from and to the
airport. Participants are advised to take a taxi or contact their respective Embassies and/or consulates
to determine the possibility of embassy assistance in arranging transport from/to the airport.
Transport from the Osborne and the Castille Hotels to and from the conference venue will be provided
by the organizers.
9.
VISAS
Participants requiring an entry visa to Malta are invited to make their own visa arrangements.
10. REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK
A Registration and Information Desk will be available to participants at the reception area of the Grand
Hotel Excelsior and will operate from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 16 November and from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00
p.m. on 17 November.
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11. SECURITY
Participants are required to wear their identity badges at all times during the conference.
12. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Weather conditions in Malta can be consulted at the following link
www.maltairport.com/weather/.
13. CURRENCY REGULATIONS
The local currency in Malta is the EUR (euro).
Major international currencies can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices and most major credit
cards are widely accepted.
 UUI, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 7: Invitation til konference: Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and humane migration across the Mediterranean (16-17 November 2017, Valletta, Malta)
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Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and humane
migration across the Mediterranean
Conference for parliaments from the European Union and from the Mediterranean region organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, the Parliament of Malta and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
16-17 November 2017,
Grand Hotel Excelsior - Grand Ballroom,
Valletta
(Malta)
REGISTRATION FORM
[One form per participant]
COUNTRY / ORGANISATION
Ms.
Address:
City:
Telephone:
Parliament / Chamber:
Function:
Full title:
Office E-mail:
Personal E-mail:
Parliamentarians only
Please list up to three parliamentary committees to which you belong
1.
2.
3.
Date of arrival:
Date of departure:
HOTEL
Flight No.:
Flight No.:
Arrival time:
Departure time:
Arriving from:
Final destination:
DATE
SIGNATURE
Kindly complete return this form to the addresses below no later than
15 October 2017
Mr
.
FIRST NAME:
FAMILY NAME:
Country:
Mobile:
Member of Parliament
Senator
Aide or staff
Ms. Eleanor SCERRI
Director (International Relations)
Parliament of Malta
The Palace
Valletta VLT 1115 (Malta)
Tel.
+356 2559 6321 / Fax: + 356 255 96 400
e-mail:
[email protected]
Mr. Akiyo AFOUDA
Inter-Parliamentary Union
5, Chemin du Pommier
1218 Grand-Saconnex
Geneva (Switzerland)
+ 41 22 919 41 23 / Fax: + 41 22 919 41 60
Tel.:
e-mail:
[email protected]
/
[email protected]
 UUI, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 7: Invitation til konference: Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and humane migration across the Mediterranean (16-17 November 2017, Valletta, Malta)
1802555_0009.png
Promoting better regional cooperation towards smart and humane
migration across the Mediterranean
Conference for parliaments from the European Union and from the Mediterranean region organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
the Parliament of Malta and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
16-17 November 2017, Grand Hotel Excelsior - Grand Ballroom, Valletta (Malta)
HOTEL RESERVATION FORM
[One form per participant]
DELEGATION / ORGANISATION
Ms.
Address
City
Telephone
Date of arrival
Date of departure
Flight No.
Flight No.
Country
Mobile
Arrival time
Departure time
Mr.
FIRST NAME
FAMILY NAME
HOTEL OF YOUR CHOICE
Hotel
Grand Hotel Excelsior 5 *
15 minutes’ walk from the
City centre
Complete and return booking form to:
Promocode: IPUBB
http://www.excelsior.com.mt/#bookingengine
Osborne Hotel 3*
5 minutes’ walk from the
meeting venue
Email:
[email protected]
Quote the following reservation number:
IPU Meeting - reservation 45371
Room type
Price in euros per room / per night (incl. breakfast & VAT)
Single Deluxe
(Inland view)
Single Deluxe
(Partial sea view)
2 person sharing
supplement: € 20 per
person / per night
nd
€ 115
€ 135
Standard Double - single use
(Inland view)
€ 100
Standard Double/Twin
(Inland view)
€ 120
Superior sea view
supplement € 20 per room
per night
Deluxe sea view
supplement € 35 per room
per night
Castille Hotel 3 *
5 minutes’ walk from the
meeting venue
Email:
[email protected]
Single Room
€ 70
Twin Room
(Single Use)
€ 120
Credit card:
Name of credit card holder:
Credit card number:
DATE
Visa
Master Card
American Express
Expiry Date:
Diners
Participants have the choice of paying by credit card or cash upon checking in at the hotel upon arrival
SIGNATURE
Kindly complete and return this form to the addresses below no later than
15 October 2017.
Ms. Eleanor SCERRI
Director (International Relations) - Parliament of Malta
Tel.
+356 +356 2559 6321 / Fax: + 356 255 96 400
e-mail:
[email protected]
Mr. Akiyo AFOUDA
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Geneva (Switzerland)
Tel.:
+ 41 22 919 41 23 / Fax: + 41 22 919 41 60
e-mail:
[email protected]
/
[email protected]