Europe’s Migrants and Refugees: Integrating into European Societies

What are the criteria for becoming an integrated migrant? Debates, perceptions and realities in Sweden, Italy, Austria and France

Background
Migration is a prevalent political topic in most European countries, often mentioned in connection with demographic decline and labour shortages. While current political debates focus on controlling the borders, the seminar will explore: What does it take to become a successful migrant/refugee? What are the criteria? On the other hand, what are the major fears regarding migration: demographic, cultural, linguistic, religious, or security? Is there a common EU integration policy or each country follows its own path?

Program
Welcome Greetings
Daniela Kraus, Presseclub Concordia, Ivan Vejvoda, Europe’s Futures-Ideas for Action (IWM) and Mirjana Tomić, Fjum/Presseclub Concordia.

Introductory remarks
Migration complexities: realities and perceptions.
Melita Šunjić, migration and communication expert, journalist, book author, university lecturer, Transcultural Campaigning, Vienna, Austria.

Panel discussion followed by Q&A
Migration is an important election issue. While debates focus on controlling the borders and expulsions, the question remains: What is a successful integration strategy? Which criteria should migrants fulfil? Between reality and perceptions.

Sweden
Bernd Parusel, senior researcher, Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS) in Stockholm. Main research interests: policies on migration, asylum, integration, and borders in the European Union.

Italy
Sara Prestianni, expert in international migration policies, Euromed Right.

Austria
Rainer Bauböck, expert in democratic citizenship, European integration, migration, nationalism, and minority rights. Part-time professor at the European University Institute in Florence (Italy). Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Panel Discussion followed by Q&A

are the criteria for a successful integration in France? Realities and perceptions.

Patrick Weil is a senior research fellow at the French National Research Center in the University of Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Senior Research Scholar in Law at Yale Law School. Professor Weil’s work focuses on comparative immigration, citizenship, and church-state law and policy.

Closing remarks: Ivan Vejvoda

Concept and moderation:
Ivan Vejvoda and Mirjana Tomić