The role of the EU's regional and local
authorities in addressing the refugee crisis:
our common challenge, our collective
response
Conference of the EPP Group in the European Committee of
the Regions
Concert Hall, building M2, 25th Martiou Street &
Paralia, Thessaloniki
16 September 2016, 9.00
a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
9.00 a.m. Opening
·
Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the European Committee of
the Regions
·
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Governor of the Region of Central
Macedonia
·
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of Nea Dimokratia
9.30 a.m. A
thriving EU Migration Policy through solidarity and partnership
This panel will discuss the European Commission's
main proposals regarding the European migration agenda, explore the root causes
of migration and highlight the role of local and regional authorities in this
context. It will also debate the reform of the Dublin III Regulation and review
the funding possibilities in the EU budget for refugees.
Moderator: Marianna
Pirgioti, Political Analyst, Columnist, former General Director of the
"Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy" (CKID)
·
Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for
Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, European Commission
·
Kinga Gàl, Vice-president of the EPP and Member of the European
Parliament LIBE Committee and
·
Jose Carreira, Executive Director, European Asylum Support Office (EASO)
·
Daniel Esdras, Chief of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) mission in Greece
11 a.m. Coordinating
operations on the ground: providing humanitarian aid and safeguarding the
external borders
Throughout this panel, the EU measures aiming at safeguarding
the external borders of the EU will be assessed. Furthermore, we will examine
the cooperation between all relevant stakeholders regarding humanitarian aid
and integration measures, in particular in Greece.
Our panelists will share their best practices and together we will explore the
possibilities of building closer ties at all levels of governance to help make
joint humanitarian work more effective. Finally, we hope to gain a better
understanding of the new available instruments which can help provide emergency
support throughout the EU.
Moderator: Marianna Pirgioti, Political Analyst, Columnist,
former General Director of the "Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for
Democracy" (CKID)
·
Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director,
Directorate B: Europe, Eastern Neighbourhood and Middle
East, DG Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, European
Commission
·
Grigorios Apostolou, Head of Greece
Liaison Office of the European Agency for the Management of Operational
Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex)
·
Hans Janssen, Mayor of Oisterwijk
(The Netherlands), CoR rapporteur on "Protection
of refugees in their areas of origin: a new perspective"
·
Christos Dimopoulos, Protection and
integration projects manager, Doctors of the World - Greece
12.45 p.m. Conclusions
Participants
may speak in FR, DE, EN, IT, EL, ES, HU and PL
Participants
may listen in FR, DE, EN, IT, EL and PL