16 June 2010, Management Centre Europe, Rue de l’Aqueduc 118, Brussels

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is pleased to announce a one-day EU‑level expert seminar on Improving Labour Market Outcomes for Migrants in the European Union in the Context of EU2020 Agenda to be held in Brussels on 16 June 2010.

The expert seminar is conducted in the framework of the EC-funded IOM Independent Network of Labour Migration and Integration Experts (LMIE‑INET) that investigates and assesses the socio‑economic impact of migration within the broader context of economic, employment and social policies at national and EU levels in order to provide the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission with independent expert analysis and advice. The findings of the research carried out by LMIE-NET contribute to the knowledge basis for shaping the EU2020 Agenda and suggest pathways for further integration of migration issues into the common strategy for fostering the EU competitiveness.

The expert seminar will gather participants from 27 EU Member States, as well as Croatia, Norway and Turkey, including policy-makers, representatives of the EU institutions, international organizations, private business, trade unions, academia and civil society. The event will serve a two-fold purpose:

To present preliminary findings of the comparative policy review on Migration, Employment and the Outcomes of Labour Market Integration Policies in the European Union conducted by IOM in January-May 2010. The study investigates how the interrelations between migration and employment in national labour markets of the EU Member States, as well as Croatia, Norway and Turkey, examines labour market outcomes for migrants and explores some of the issues that the findings raise for migration, employment and social policies.

To facilitate a debate with a broad range of stakeholders on policy measures, in particular in the field of employment and labour market relevant in the context of debate on implementation of EU2020 Agenda.

In particular, three thematic sessions will be held in order to discuss policies and practices aimed at improving labour market integration of migrants on the basis of concrete existing examples from across the LMIE-INET network countries.

Session I will be dedicated to the challenges of labour market integration of migrant youth in the framework of the proposed EU flagship initiative on New Skills and New Jobs.

Session II will investigate the good practices of national and local authorities in fostering labour market inclusion of migrant population.

Session III will serve as an opportunity to debate the examples of employers taking up an active role in labour market integration of migrants, including together with the state and regional bodies, as well as with the social partners.

The working language of the conference will be English.

IOM will cover the costs of non-Brussels participants’ travel, accommodation and board.

On-line registration is open as of 10 May 2010 on the new project website at http://labourmigration.eu  

All interested in participation or in learning more about the seminar are kindly requested to contact: Ms. Anna Platonova, Project Manager, IOM Brussels (e-mail: [email protected], tel. +32 2 287 75 13).

09:30 – 10:00  Opening Remarks

• Mr. Xavier Prats-Monné, Director for Employment Policy, EU2020 Strategy and International Affairs, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
• Mr. Bernd Hemingway, Regional Representative, Regional Mission to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO of the International Organization for Migration
• Mr. Luca Jahier, President of the Permanent Working Group Immigration/Integration, European Economic and Social Committee
• Ms. María Hernández Encabo, Ministry of Labour of Immigration of Spain on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union

10:00 – 11:00
INTRODUCTION: Migration, Employment and Labour Market Integration in the European Union

• Chair: Xavier Prats-Monné, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
• Findings of the IOM policy review on Migration, Employment and the Outcomes of Labour Market Integration Policies in the European Union
• Expert Panel of IOM Independent Network of Labour Migration and Integration Experts
• Discussion

11:00 – 11:30  Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:45
THEMATIC SESSION I: Migrant Integration and the EU 2020 Agenda:
Focus on New Skills and New Jobs and Youth on the Move

• Chair: Mr. Gordon Clark, DG Education and Culture
• Mr. Egbert Holthuis, Deputy Head of Unit D.2: European Employment Strategy, CSR, Local Development, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
• Ms. Tine Horwitz, Head, Consortium for Global Talent, Denmark
• Dr. Alexey Medvedev, Project Manager, BQM – Consulting & Coordination Centre for the Vocational Qualification of Young Immigrants, Municipality of Hamburg
• Discussion

12:45 – 14:00   Lunch

14:00 – 15:15
THEMATIC SESSION II: Good Practices of National and Local Authorities in Improving Labour Market Integration of Migrants

• Chair: tbc
• Mr. Michiel van de Voorde, Co-ordinator, Flemish Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs
• Dr. Gotzone Mora Temprano, Vice-Minister for Solidarity and Citizenship, Valencia Regional Government
• Ms. Jasmine Böhm, Manager, ABZ Austria
• Discussion

15:15 – 16:45
THEMATIC SESSION III: Active Role of Employers in Fostering Labour Market Integration of Migrants

• Chair: Georg Fischer, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
• Ms. Patricia Normanly, Manager, Employee Development and Equality, Dublin Bus, Ireland
• Ms. Tove Strand, Vice CEO, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
• Ms. Lotte Holck, Senior Consultant, Foreningen Nydansker, Denmark
• Mr. Bart Beek, Diversity Manager, TNT Post Netherlands
• Ms. Irina de Sancho Alonso, Adviser for Migration, European Trade Union Confederation
• Discussion

16:45 – 17:15  Concluding Remarks

• IOM Brussels
• DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities