Athens, 1 March 2022

Conference on the Future of Europe - Meeting of Working Group on Migration

An extraordinary online meeting of the Conference on the Future of Europe Working Group on Migration took place on 1 March 2022, with the participation of the Working Group Co-Chair, Greek MP Dimitris Karidis, and the Greek European Commission Vice-President, responsible for promoting our European way of life Margaritis Schinas.

Nineteen recommendations on Migration were presented during the Working Group meeting, attended by citizens from various EU countries, representatives of European social bodies and organisations, local and regional authorities, as well as MPs, MEPs, Commissioners, Ministers and other EU officials and were adopted by the European Citizens' Panel.

European citizens’ representatives identified as their main focus the implementation of a collective and uniform European immigration and asylum policy, human-centred and based on the principle of solidarity.

Other issues included in the European citizens’ recommendations are: tackling the causes of migration and cooperation with third countries, more effective border control via strengthening the responsibilities of the European Border and Coast Guard, the Dublin system replacement by a legally binding treaty to ensure a fair, balanced and proportionate distribution of asylum seekers in the EU, as well as the replacement of the Directive on the requirements for the reception of applicants for international protection by a binding EU regulation, which will give priority to the application of uniform rules and the improvement of reception and housing facilities, the development of legal migration routes and attracting skilled individuals.

Taking the floor, the European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, stressed the need for the overall endorsement of the new Immigration and Asylum Pact package of measures, and then, referring to the situation in Ukraine, briefed participants on the activation of the humanitarian visa mechanism for all refugees, which provides access to health, education and housing in all EU countries.

In his concluding remarks, the Working Group on Migration Co-Chair, Mr. Dimitris Kairidis, expressed his satisfaction over the progressive nature of the European citizens’recommendations on the issue of migration, but also over the progress of the work of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Focusing on the refugee crisis in progress on the EU's Eastern borders due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he highlighted the indignation of all European citizens over the tragedy that has befallen the Ukrainian people.

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