The PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions participated today in the event on "Managing migration and supporting refugees in a globalised world", organised by the European Parliament's S&D Group in Hamburg with the participation of high-level speakers from Africa, Europe and the United Nations.
The event was opened by Udo BullmannMEP, President of the S&D Group, Knut Fleckenstein, MEP, S&D Group Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, and Niels Annen, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office.
The debates focused on two main topics: A Global approach to Refugees & Migrants, and Europe & Africa: Managing Migration.
Intervening on behalf of the PES Group, Barbara Duden, Member of Hamburg City Parliament, emphasized: "Local and regional authorities are in the front line when it comes to providing essential social services and ensuring integration and social inclusion of migrants. The experience of the last years has shown that cities and regions have really shown what it means when we talk about responsibility, solidarity and cooperation. However, we need more support to make the integration of migrants successful", she stressed, calling for an ambitious EU migration and asylum policy.
At the end of the event, a declaration on ‘Managing Migration and Supporting Refugees in a Globalised World’ was adopted.
TOGETHER is a joint project by the S&D Group and its partners, including the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, the Party of European Socialists (PES), social-democratic representatives of national parliaments, the Socialist Group in the Council of Europe, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), Global Progressive Forum (GPF), SOLIDAR, civil society and progressive NGOs. Building up to the European elections in May 2019, it encourages citizens through a series of events across Europe to contribute to this new direction for Europe.
