Migratiedeals

Agenda

8 November 2017
Open Society European Policy Institute

Brussels Roundtable Meting: Returns from Europe’s borders to Turkey

Returns from Europe’s borders to Turkey: A test case for the externalization of protection responsibilities

 8 November 2017

09.45 – 17:00

 

Location: Open Society European Policy Institute

Rue du Trône 130 – Brussels

 

The EU Turkey Statement has been criticized for the human right violations it has caused on Greek islands, as well as for shifting responsibilities to a country with a poor human rights record, namely Turkey. At the same time Italy is stepping up support to Libya to curb migrant flows and the UNHCR is exploring how to open a refugee transit center in Tripoli early 2018. The research conducted by the University of Utrecht and Borderline Europe asks what the consequences are of the EU Turkey Statement for people on the move. In this roundtable we want to discuss what we can learn from these insights for the future. We want to move from ideas to empirical evidence and aim to provide an environment for mutual learning. Chatham House Rules will apply.

 

In the morning, the University of Utrecht research team will present facts from the field. In the afternoon, we will discuss lessons for the EU’s protection responsibilities and its relations with bordering countries.

 

09:45 – 10:00               Welcome with Coffee

 

10:00 – 10:05               Opening by Giulia Lagana (Open Society Foundation), Ilse van Liempt (University of Utrecht) and Annelies Zoomers (University of Utrecht)

 

10.05 – 10.30               Round of Introductions (moderated by Giulia Lagana)

 

10:30 – 11:15              Orcun Ulusoy (Borderline Europe): Is Turkey a safe third country?

 

15 minutes presentation followed by a reaction and a roundtable discussion

 

11:15 – 12:00               Jill Alpes (University of Utrecht): What happens with people after their readmission to Turkey?

 

15 minutes presentation followed by a reaction and a roundtable discussion

 

12:00 – 12:15              Coffee break

 

12:00 – 12:45              Saima Hassan, Journalist: What are the effects of the EU Turkey deal for people who are readmitted to Pakistan?

 

13:00 – 14.00              Light lunch

 

14:00 – 14:45              Round of reflections on the morning discussion: Are human right violations in Greece due to impartial implementation or bad design? (Moderated by Ilse van Liempt)

 

14.45 – 15.30               Roundtable discussion on the EU’s relations with bordering countries: What lessons need to be learned from the EU’s attempts to shift protection responsibilities in the Eastern Mediterranean? What next steps are necessary to uphold human rights in the EU’s cooperation with transit and origin countries in the Central Mediterranean and Africa? What oversight mechanisms are lacking? (Moderated by Jill Alpes)

 

15.30 – 15.45               Coffee break

 

15.45 – 17.00               Roundtable discussion on alternative ways forward: What alternative responses to mixed migration flows are imaginable? (Moderated by Annelies Zoomers)

 

17.00                           Light refreshment