Migrants

MEETING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN THE
NEXT EU MIGRATION AGREEMENTS

Conference on how to secure humanity in the next EU migrations agreements

The EU-Turkey deal of March 2016 was a turning point in the Europe migration policies following the height of the migration influx in 2015. While widely recognized as successfully stemming the flows of refugees and migrants crossing the Aegean Sea, the EU-Turkey deal has also met signifi-cant criticism. 

In 2018, migration is still at the top of the European agenda and although the flow of refugees and migrants has been reduced, Europeans are still very concerned. Negotiations within the EU and with countries outside the EU on possible solutions are on-going. Europe is moving towards more tightly controlled borders and although still contested, a political wish to deter migrants from crossing to Europe is finding support across the political spectrum. Under these political condi-tions, the question remains if it is possible to ensure humanity in the next migration agreement? Can international protection be provided outside of Europe while at the same time meeting the basic humanitarian needs and human rights of displaced people? Can we envisage a system where even more displaced people can be reached?

Time and place

Wednesday, October 10th 2018, 9.30 am - 1.30 pm
Røde Kors, Frivillighuset (Volunteer House), Blegdamsvej 27, 2100 København Ø

Programme

Moderator: Nynne Bjerre Christensen

 

9.30: Welcome by Anders Ladekarl, Secretary General, Danish Red Cross

 

9.35-10.30: The Success and Failures of the EU-Turkey Deal by Gerald Knaus

The architect behind the EU-Turkey deal, Gerald Knaus, gives a presentation on the success and failures of the EU-Turkey agreement and his views on the EU migration policy going forward.

 

10.30-10.50: Humanitarian Overview by Lars Peter Nissen

Director of ACAPS, Lars Peter Nissen, provides a humanitarian overview of the main concerns of the countries hosting large refugee populations and the needs of migrants and refugees.

 

10.50-11.10: Experience from the Front Line by Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen

Eye witness accounts by International Director, Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen of the protection gaps in different countries on migration routes and host countries of large refugee populations.

 

11.10-11.35: Coffee break

 

11.35-11.55: Better Protecting Refugees in Europe and Globally by Wilfried Buchhorn

Deputy Regional Representative for Northern Europe at UNHCR, Wilfried Buchhorn, gives a presentation on mixed migration flows to Europe, response and consequences for refugees, migrants and for host and transit countries.

 

11.55-12.15: The Dysfunctional Asylum System and the Need for New Solutions by Morten Lisborg

Perspectives on the current global asylum system and reforming EU migration policy by independent migration expert Morten Lisborg.

 

12.15-13.10: Panel debate: Balancing pragmatism and humanity

Panel debate on striking the balance between humanity and the political and popular demands to stem the flow of migrants in Europe.

 

Panel:

  • Anders Ladekarl, Danish Red Cross
  • Gerald Knaus, European Stability Initiative
  • Morten Lisborg, Migration Management Advice
  • Wilfried Buchhorn, UNHCR
  • Peter Hummelgaard, the Social Democratic Party
  • Martin Lidegaard, the Liberal Social Party

 13.10-13.15: Round up and thank you for today by Anders Ladekarl

 

13.15: Sandwiches and networking

 

 

Registration

Maximum capacity has been reached. Registration is now closed.

Questions regarding the conference can be forwarded to Vedran Cosic: velos@rodekors.dk

Gerald Knaus

Gerald Knaus

Founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative think tank and known as the architect behind the EU-Turkey agreement. Knaus is one of the central persons in the European debate on migration policy.

Gerald Knaus will give a presentation on the success and failures of the EU-Turkey agreement and his views on the EU migration policy going forward.

Wilfried Buchhorn

Deputy Regional Representative for Northern Europe at UNHCR. Wilfried Buch-horn joined UNHCR in 1994. He has previous been Head of the UNHCR Liaison Officer to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and has supported the development of a Common European Asylum System and the coordination of UNHCR activities in response to the European refugee emergency.

UNHCR will give a presentation on protection of refugees in Europe and globally providing a perspective on mixed migration flows to Europe, response and consequences for refugees, migrants and host/transit countries.

Wilfried Buchhorn

Martin Lindegaard

Martin Lidegaard

Former minister of foreign affairs from 2014-2015 and spokesman for foreign affairs and development cooperation, Liberal Social Party.

The Liberal Social Party are a strong supporter of common European asylsystems and solidarity on the distribution and handling of refugees at the EU-level.

Lars Peter Nissen

Director of ACAPS. Lars Peter Nissen has extensive experience on how to respond to humanitarian crisis due to his work with numerous crisis across the world for the past 20 years. Lars Peter Nissen is also a visiting professor at the University of Copenhagen.

Lars will give a humanitarian overview of the main concerns of the countries hosting large refugee populations and the needs of migrants and refugees.

Lars

Anders ladekarl

Anders Ladekarl

Secretary General, Danish Red Cross. He joined the Danish Red Cross in 2002 as Director of the International Department. In this capacity, he has travelled extensively visiting Red Cross projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Anders Ladekarl was appointed Secretary General of the Danish Red Cross in March 2008.

Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen

Member of parliament and EU-spokesman for the the Social Democratic Party. In February 2018, the Social Democrats launched a large policy catalogue on among other things the European asylum system and humanitarian aid, suggesting the creation of reception facilities outside Europe and to increase humanitarian aid to displaced people.

Peter hummelgaard

Morten Lisborg

Morten Lisborg

Morten Lisborg is co-director of the consulting firm and think tank Migration Management Advice. He has more than 15 years of practical work experience for the Danish Immigration Service, UNHCR and International NGOs. He has published several reports and articles on challenges related to the current European asylum system and is providing policy advice to Danish political parties.

Birgitte Ebbesen

Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen is the International Director of Danish Red Cross and co-chair of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support in Denmark. She has field experience from Latin America, Asia, Africa and a strong commitment to increase prevention and treatment of NCDs in humanitarian settings. Birgitte holds a Master in Public Administration and Social Science.

birgitte