REFUGEE & MIGRANT LEADERS MEET IN BRUSSELS FOR HISTORIC SUMMIT AHEAD OF THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Over 60 refugee and migrant representatives from the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for the first-ever European Summit of Refugees and Migrants On 4-6 May, refugee and migrant representatives from the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for the firstever European Summit of Refugees and Migrants. After two days of working together to develop policy proposals, they were joined by over 40 delegates from iNGOs, private sector, academia, EU institutions, UNHCR and foundations to discuss and exchange views on key issues including civic engagement, health & wellbeing, education, protection, agency & participation. As an outcome of the historic three day discussions, participants will put forward a series of concrete long – term policy recommendations and pledges to national level policy-makers and the European Parliament and Commission in November. Ensuring no European policy discussions on asylum, migration and integration is discussed without the meaningful inclusion of those that it affects the most, refugees and migrants. Moreover, during the stakeholders session, the organizers announced the launching of the European Coalition of Refugee-led and Migrant-led networks who elected its representatives to lead the advocacy work in the coming two years. The European Summit of Refugees and Migrants was convened and organised by representatives of five refugeeled and migrant-led organizations, including the Global Refugee-Led Network (GRN), New Women Connectors, the Syrian Volunteers in Netherlands (SYVNL), the Diaspora Networks Alliances (DNA) and the G-100 Initiative. Support was provided by a coalition of partners including the NGO Independent Diplomat (ID), the Dutch Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam, the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the European Programme on Integration and Migration (EPIM). Commenting on the landmark occasion, Ms Shaza AIRIhawi of the Global Refugee-Led Network said, “I’m delighted that we could make this happen and come together at what is a very important time for Europe. This is the first time that refugee representatives have met on a European level to create a space for serious conversation about refugee and migrant self-representation. One of the many important conclusions that came from our discussions is the need to be more strategic in our advocacy efforts towards the EU, which is why we are mobilising ourselves ahead of the new European Parliament and Commission becomes fully operational later in the year.” Mohammed Badran of the Syrian Volunteers in Netherlands commented: “It is clear that refugees and migrants want to contribute to building a more just and stronger Europe. After all this is our home. We must be part of the solution by utilising our skills and strengths to help build our host communities from the bottom-up.” “We are putting forward concrete and actionable recommendations on an array of issues affecting refugees and migrants. From strengthening the right to work and the rights at work for refugees and migrants; suggest how states can include professionals of migrant and refugee background in planning and administrating health programs; to how to build a unified process for recognising foreign diploma at the EU level; or how a reformed Dublin agreement could look like. We are looking at progressive solutions for an outward looking Europe’ concludes Anila Noor of New Women Connectors. ENDS FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: Shervin Behzadi T: +44 (0)7791 400 037 E: shervin.behzadi@independentdiplomat.org flygtninge og immigranters rettigheder under EU lovgivningen REFUGEE & MIGRANT LEADERS MEET IN BRUSSELS FOR HISTORIC SUMMIT AHEAD OF THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Over 60 refugee and migrant representatives from the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for the first-ever European Summit of Refugees and Migrants On 4-6 May, refugee and migrant representatives from the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for the firstever European Summit of Refugees and Migrants. After two days of working together to develop policy proposals, they were joined by over 40 delegates from iNGOs, private sector, academia, EU institutions, UNHCR and foundations to discuss and exchange views on key issues including civic engagement, health & wellbeing, education, protection, agency & participation. As an outcome of the historic three day discussions, participants will put forward a series of concrete long – term policy recommendations and pledges to national level policy-makers and the European Parliament and Commission in November. Ensuring no European policy discussions on asylum, migration and integration is discussed without the meaningful inclusion of those that it affects the most, refugees and migrants. Moreover, during the stakeholders session, the organizers announced the launching of the European Coalition of Refugee-led and Migrant-led networks who elected its representatives to lead the advocacy work in the coming two years. The European Summit of Refugees and Migrants was convened and organised by representatives of five refugeeled and migrant-led organizations, including the Global Refugee-Led Network (GRN), New Women Connectors, the Syrian Volunteers in Netherlands (SYVNL), the Diaspora Networks Alliances (DNA) and the G-100 Initiative. Support was provided by a coalition of partners including the NGO Independent Diplomat (ID), the Dutch Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam, the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the European Programme on Integration and Migration (EPIM). Commenting on the landmark occasion, Ms Shaza AIRIhawi of the Global Refugee-Led Network said, “I’m delighted that we could make this happen and come together at what is a very important time for Europe. This is the first time that refugee representatives have met on a European level to create a space for serious conversation about refugee and migrant self-representation. One of the many important conclusions that came from our discussions is the need to be more strategic in our advocacy efforts towards the EU, which is why we are mobilising ourselves ahead of the new European Parliament and Commission becomes fully operational later in the year.” Mohammed Badran of the Syrian Volunteers in Netherlands commented: “It is clear that refugees and migrants want to contribute to building a more just and stronger Europe. After all this is our home. We must be part of the solution by utilising our skills and strengths to help build our host communities from the bottom-up.” “We are putting forward concrete and actionable recommendations on an array of issues affecting refugees and migrants. From strengthening the right to work and the rights at work for refugees and migrants; suggest how states can include professionals of migrant and refugee background in planning and administrating health programs; to how to build a unified process for recognising foreign diploma at the EU level; or how a reformed Dublin agreement could look like. We are looking at progressive solutions for an outward looking Europe’ concludes Anila Noor of New Women Connectors. ENDS FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: Shervin Behzadi T: +44 (0)7791 400 037 E: shervin.behzadi@independentdiplomat.org