Vienna Migration Conference 2016 Has Been Opened

VIENNA, November 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Sessions on future perspectives of European migration policy started  

The Vienna Migration Conference 2016 organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development has been opened in the celebration hall of the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday. ICMPD Secretary General Michael Spindelegger describes the aim of the conference against the background of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants that took place 19 September this year: "We want to discuss and break down the results of the New York Declaration for refugees and migrants to a European level and develop possible scenarios for implementation that would bring better solutions for both the migrants and all the states involved.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161109/437442 )

At the opening session, high-level politicians such as the "Enlargement-Commissioner" Johannes Hahn, the upcoming chair of the EU Council Presidency the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs George W. Vella and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier delivered their statements. Alongside with experts like the Europe-Director of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Vincent Cochetel and Demetrios Papademetriou, Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus of Migration Policy Institute new perspectives for a new European migration policy will be illustrated.

After the opening remarks by the Austrian Minister of Internal Affairs, Wolfgang Sobotka and the Keynote delivered by Oxford-Economist and advisor to the German federal government, Paul Collier, more than 200 international participants at the Vienna Hofburg Palace are going to discuss the two key questions: On the one hand refugee protection in Europe and its necessary foundation, on the other hand international cooperation in the context of a common European migration policy. Led by ICMPD, experts from academia, politics, civil society and international organisations will share their views and analyses.

ICMPD Director General points out that it is fundamentally necessary for the future to "create new comprehensive models, that will guarantee save and orderly migration". Apart from that he points to the importance of "establishing perspectives in the sending countries through sustainable partnerships". Finally, he emphasizes that Europe could only perform well "if it acts solidly united both on the inside and the outside in regards to the neighbouring - and the countries of origin." Spindelegger views the International Centre for Migration Policy Development as a "platform that acts as an intermediary between theory and practice, experts and politicians that paving the way to create conditions that will allow for actual improvement".  

http://www.vienna-migration-conference.org/

http://refugeesmigrants.un.org/declaration

Press contact:
Bernhard Schragl
ICMPD - Communication and Media Coordinator
T: +43 1 504 4677 2444
E: bernhard.schragl@icmpd.org

http://www.icmpd.org