Voices from the Conference on Migration and Development

During the Migration and development conference organized the 15th and 16th of March 2006 in Brussels, interior Minister Patrick Dewael argued in favor of a controlled immigration system which would enclose benefits for both Europe and developing nations over a given timeframe, claiming that decisions must be made on which country needs which workers. According to Dewael, economic migrants would have to undergo specific training and education prior to immigrating.

In opposition, Benoît Van der Meerschen, secretary general of the Belgian national centre for cooperation and development (CNCD-11.11.11) regretted the absence of the migrants themselves. «Where are the NGO’s?» he asked, «the debate seems from the beginning on somewhat oriented». Van der Meerschen also fears the exploitation of development cooperation for the management of Migratory flows.

The conference, organized by the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium in close collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and with the support of the European Commission and the World Bank, brought together decision-makers from migrant receiving countries in Europe and countries of origin in Africa, Asia and Latin America as well as representatives of migrant organizations and international actors.

Documents:

 Speech of European Commission Vice-president Franco Frattini, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Migration and development: challenges and opportunities (16.03.06)

http://libertysecurity.org/article853.html

 La Libre Belgique article, Gérer les migrations, ce n’est pas de la coopération (15.03.06) :

http://www.lalibre.be/article.phtml?id=10&subid=90&art_id=274398