ICMPD: Vienna Migration Conference 2018 - Seeking Viable Options for Future Migration Governance

VIENNA, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

"Refugee Protection" and "Labour Migration" will be the central themes of the two-day migration conference in Vienna

"Migration Ministers" from Afghanistan, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, and Tunisia

In its third year, the "Vienna Migration Conference 2018" organised by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is dedicated to an ambitious goal: overcoming the crisis mode of today and working towards long-term and forward-thinking migration policies.  

The conference, starting tomorrow evening, is based on the "Migration Partnership Concept" and its five principles which were presented last year: "enhance crisis responsiveness", "foster refugee autonomy, responsibility sharing and pathways to protection", "address the regional dimensions of migration and displacement", "create pathways for legal migration and perspectives for the young and educated in countries of origin" and "make return policies more intelligent".

This year, the conference will focus on two priority areas for migration partnerships where political progress is needed the most and where a comprehensive debate can contribute towards substantial gains: regulation in addressing the global refugee crisis and ensuring access to international protection on the one hand, and building a system of functioning labour migration on the other. "Although the situation in Europe has improved recently, it is clear that the crisis is by no means over. Many important steps have been taken, however, we still face major challenges we need to address." said ICMPD Director-General Michael Spindelegger, who initiated the first Vienna Migration conference in 2016.

The three panel discussions at this year's conference, held in the Aula of Sciences, host a number of prominent guests. Ministers and state secretaries from Afghanistan, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and Tunisia will discuss the themes of the conference during the  "High-Level Political Panel " from the perspective the decision-makers. The second day of the conference will gather a number of well-known migration experts. Its first panel will discuss the question of the reform of the international protection system following an introduction to last year's global compact process by Jonathan Prentice, the Chief of Office of the UN Special Envoy for International Migration. Pannelists, amongst others, are Pascal Teixeira da Silva, the "Ambassador for Migration" appointed by President Macron, Nina Gregori , Director General for Migration and Naturalization in Slovenia, and Grainne O' Hara, Director of the Division of International Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee,. Under the heading The second panel titled "Skilled Migration" will welcome Cornelia Lüthy, Vice Director at the State Secretariat for Migration, Switzerland, Matthias Oel, Director at the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission, Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of the International Migration Division at the OECD, and Alfred Höhn, Leader of the Government & Public Sector at PricewaterhouseCoopers. They will speak to an expected audience of more than 400 invited guests.

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development is a key player in the migration field. The Centre works with a broad number of international partners to deepen effective cooperation and partnerships along migration routes. Priority regions include Africa, Central and South Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Its three pillar approach in migration management - linking research, migration dialogues and capacity building – contributes to better migration policy development world-wide. ICMPD has a staff of about 300 people and is active in more than 90 countries. The Vienna-based organisation has a mission in Brussels, and regional and project offices in many parts of the world.

For more information, please contact:

Bernhard Schragl

ICMPD - Communication and Media Coordinator

Tel: +43-1-504-4677-2444

Fax: +43-1-504-4677-2375

media@icmpd.org

www.icmpd.org

For more information about ICMPD visit: www.icmpd.org