A representative of the society “Shelter “Safe House”” Shamla Tsargand took part in the forum and has summarized topics discussed about actions in the past, present and future regarding migrants in the EU.
Commissioner Malmstrom, noted that today there are 20 million third country national migrants in the EU and their participation in the democratic process is very important. Improving their political participation will insure better access to the social and economical rights.
2013 is the European year of citizens. It aims at informing citizens about the rights and benefits of being part of EU and engaging in debate with them. It also means looking at how individual migrants affirm their presence in the receiving country, through their relationship with the receiving community, their social, economic, cultural and political activities in the community, and how their contribution to public and private life is equally recognized.
The agenda of the forum aimed to discus also political rights and empowerment of migrants, civic participation, acquisition of citizenship and debate on future priorities - post-Stockholm Programme, which sets out the EU`s priorities for the Justice and Home Affairs area, will come to its end in 2014. The Commission is currently reflecting on a political initiative for the period 2014-2020.
A public debate has been launched by DG Home Affairs on "The future of Home Affairs policies: An open and safe Europe - what next?" with a view to contribute to the Commission Communication on the New Agenda for Home Affairs. During the final session of the Forum the civil society representatives adopted a political statement on the subject of this meeting, addressed to European, national, regional and local authorities and other stakeholders. It is partly based on the recent EESC opinion on "A more inclusive citizenship open to immigrants", which was also presented during the meeting.
The 10th European Integration Forum "Participation of migrants in the democratic process - Towards a more inclusive citizenship" also was a occasion to briefly debate the new agenda in the area of migration, integration and asylum and about the role and format of the Forum in the next period.
Recall, NGO "Shelter "Safe House"" is an official Latvian civil society representative selected by the Ministry of Culture since 2010.
Foto: Shamla Tsargand, "Shelter "Safe House""
For more information:
Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Public Relations Consultant and Practitioner
rasa.salina@gmail.com
