Belgium

Keywords:  vulnerable groups, human rights, social cohesion, Integration and migration policies of the EU,
civil society and its challenges, innovation, inclusion, working bottom up, best practices and successful
cooperation, interdisciplinary work.

The public debate will be a two day event which will include an intensive programme of official discussions, workshops, trainings, study visits, project proposals development, presentation of I version of the European Report on situation with refugees, migrants and minorities in different sector of social life.

Date and place: 13th – 16th March 2022 in Brussels, Belgium
Venue: Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre and European Parliament

Participants: up to 85 participants (up to 30 from Belgium and up to 55 international participants on site or
online) from international organisations representatives, experts, invited guests, students/youth,
interested organisations/institutions and NGOs leaders, networks and individuals representing vulnerable
groups.

Official languages: English

Components of the public debate:

– Key note speeches by international experts in the field of migration and integration policy in EU, education and inclusion, political participation, naturalisation, adaptation, civil society, human rights, breaking stereotypes, countering discrimination in education system (by age, gender, national origin and disability) and tools and services – The aim is to introduce the themes to all participants (as the event is open to all) and further elaborate on the continued relevance of these themes.

– Panel discussion sessions, these panel discussions include representatives of many different backgrounds who will highlight the usefulness of creating a comparative perspective, being open to ideas from other countries (regions), and finding common goals and policy approaches.

– Practical working groups/workshops for participants to introduce them to new skills and knowledge with final cooperation results. (Workshop agenda for organizations/individuals related with strengthening cohesion for more inclusive Europe).

A hybrid meeting format Zoom link will be provided only to officially registered participants. An online participation will start on 15th March 2022 at 10.00 am (CET).

REGISTRATION(online form) is open for foreign participants till 1st of March 2022 and for Belgian participants until 7th March 2022

13th of March 2022, Brussels – ARRIVAL DAY
All day arrival from (12 EU countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Greece and other interested) Opening + Dinner

Venue: Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre (Address: Rue du Midi 135, 1000 Brussels, Belgium) 

17.00 – 18.30 Registration and unofficial opening
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner at Restaurant Le Magellan

14th of March 2022, Brussels – EU HIGH LEVEL PUBLIC DEBATE WITH OFFICIALS & TARGET GROUPS
representatives
Venue: Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre (Address: Rue du Midi 135, 1000 Brussels, Belgium) 
10.00 – 10.30 Opening Speeches:
o Dan Pavel DOGHI, European Commission DG Justice and Consumers (virtually)
o H.E. Belgium Government or the City of Brussels representative
o Mr. Vassili Golikov, (Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare, Estonia) project leader and initiator.
PhD. Biser Alekov (KHAM vzw) co – organiser
10.30 – 11.30 Keynote speakers:
o “Migration and Europe: Trends and challenges” – Saara Pellander, Director of Migration Institute of Finland
o “Enhancing participation of vulnerable groups (migrants and minorities) in political and public decision-making” –Ph.D Eleftheria Ftaklaki, Political scientist, Researcher at the Aegean university, Greece
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee Break
11.45 – 13.00 Panel discussion I: Making a success of EU integration policy for immigrants and refugees in
the society though granting access to social and political participation and updating integration policies.
o Representative of European Parliament
o Estela Marcinkeviciute, organization AKTYVISTAI (Lithuania)
o Anne Laitinen-Saunio, Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (Finland)
o Adel AlBaghdadi, Social Entrepreneur, Founder of WE organization (Netherlands)
o Representative of Culture Face Association (Portugal)
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 14.45 Keynote speakers:
o “Challenges in European integration policy from the perspective of the migration crisis” – Mall Saul, Advisor of Cultural Diversity Department, Estonian Ministry of Culture
o “The role of human right education in integration of migrants to the societies” – Xavier Baro, Director of AHEAD, Association of Human Rights Educators, Spain
o “Empowerment and socialization of young Roma and LGBT community by protecting their rights”
PhD. Biser Alekov, Director of KHAM vzw (Belgium)

14.45 – 16.00 Panel discussion II: European integration policies in terms of human rights approach and education
o Rudy Raes, Director of D’broej Centrum West, (Belgium)
o Rashid Abubakar Iddrisu representative of NGO CEHDA (Spain)
o Gunta Viksne, Representative of NGO Shelter „Safe House” (Latvia)
o Ioannis Papageorgiou, Representative of European House of Rhodes (Greece)
o Uwe Guenter Schmidt, Culture Centre Brakula (Germany)
o Lena Torquato Lidén, Cultural producer at NGO ÖGAT (Sweden)
16.00 – 16.15 Coffee Break
16.15 – 17.15 Sharing best practices and opinions by each country: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Slovakia.
17.15 – 17.30 Presentation of European report I draft on the situation of migrants and minorities in our society and required changes in EU policies (based on the public debated/polls outcomes & experts views).
17.30 – 18.00 Summary
19.00 – 21.00 Official Dinner

15th of March 2022, Brussels
Visiting local NGOs and conducting discussions in the groups by formulating the input to European Report on the theme of Naturalisation, Adaptation and Political involvement.

09.45 – 10.00 Meeting at the lobby of the hotel and delegates spilt in the groups (1-6).
10.30 – 13.00 Group 1: European Parliament discussions with MPs (pre selected experts only)
10.30 – 13.00 Group 2: Migration museum https://migratiemuseummigration.be/
10.30 – 13.00 Group 3:  Youth Centre West (Menenstraat 24, 1080 Sint-Jans-Molenbeek)
10.30 – 13.00 Group 4: ERGO Network https://ergonetwork.org/
10.30 – 13.00 Group 5: CRIPA, Municipality of Anderlecht https://www.anderlecht.be/fr/accueil-primo-arrivants
10.30 – 13.00 Group 6: Rainbow house and Balkan LGBTQIA http://rainbowhouse.be/en/
13.00 – 14.00 LUNCH BY GROUPS
14:00 – 16:00 (Venue: Excelsior Room, Rue Eloy 80, 1070 Anderlecht, Brussels)
Development of the content for the European Report: the theme of Naturalisation, Adaptation and Political involvement and feedback on practical solutions. 
16.00 – 16.30 Summary and conclusion

Free time

20.00 – 21.00 Dinner place TBA

16th of March 2022, Brussels – (Project partners meeting and departures)
Departure of the European Delegates