Progressive Migration Group Conference

In the current global context, migration is once again at the top of the European and national political agenda. However, short-term, simplistic and narrow policy responses will not only fail to address existing challenges but will likely exacerbate the consequences of mismanagement.

Considering the significance of migration as a policy issue in the new European legislative term, we are continuing the crucial work of the Progressive Migration Group (PMG) in cooperation with FEPS.  Therefore, we will hold a half-day conference on 10 September, from 9:30-13:15 at the FEPS HQ (Avenue des Arts 46, 1000 Brussels). If you want to join the conference, please register under this link.

The PMG will present the results of its findings in the course of the conference. We will discuss these questions: What impact will the EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum have on African countries? How could a migrant-centred approach to legal pathways and labour migration look like? Which policies need to be in place? 

Programme:

9:00 Registration

9:30 Welcome remarks by László Andor, Secretary-General, FEPS

9:45 –11:15 Panel 1: The impact of the EU asylum reform on African countries

• Ottilia Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects in the office of the Executive Director at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS)
• Jérôme Tubiana, Operational Adviser on Refugee Issues for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) at the Paris Operational Centre
• Alberto Neidhardt, Senior Policy Analyst and Head of European Diversity and Migration Programme at the European Policy Centre (EPC)
• Juan Fernando López Aguilar, S&D Member of the European Parliament

Q&A with the audience

Moderated by Sara Bojarczuk, Research Assistant Professor, Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw

11:15 – 11:30 Coffee break 

11:30 – 13:00 Panel 2: A migrant-centred approach to legal pathways & labour migration 

• Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, Development Economist and Migration Governance Expert
• Ferruccio Pastore, Director of International and European Forum on Migration Research (FIERI)
• Mercedes Miletti, Senior Advisor on Migration and Union Migrant Network at European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Antje Grotheer, President of the Bremen Parliament and Rapporteur on the Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum: The Local and Regional Perspective at the Committee of the Regions (online)

Q&A with the audience

Moderated by Tobias Beylat, Policy Officer for Migration & Integration, FES EU Office Brussels

13:00 – 13:15 Concluding remarks by Anna Terron Cusi, Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and former Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration of the Government of Spain (2010-2011)

13:15 – 14:15 Networking lunch

Background of the Progressive Migration Group

The Progressive Migration Group is composed of migration experts from different parts of Africa and Europe.

Several online expert meetings in 2024 focused on the three key challenges, namely:

• the implications of the EU Asylum reform for African countries,
• the shortage of labour migration and legal pathways,
• and the African perspectives on the complex interplay between EU migration and development policy on the continent. 

For more information, contact our Policy Officer Tobias Beylat: Tobias.Beylat(at)fes.de