Workshop in Brussels

In cooperation with the European Commission the AAMEE project team organised a workshop in Brussels on 13 October 2009 to present the results of the AAMEE-project.

The main aim of the workshop was to discuss how equal opportunities by mutual integration, active ageing and empowerment as well as the improvement of the quality of life of migrant elders across Europe can be promoted. The aim was to find out and specify sustainable European perspectives concerning equal opportunities which will go far beyond the AAMEE-project's duration.

Representatives of the European Commission (Directorate General of Employment and Social Affairs [DG EMPL], Directorate General on Justice, Freedom and Security [DG JLS], Directorate General Education and Culture [DG EAC]); the European Parliament; the Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; the Permanent Representation of North Rhine Westphalia to the European Union; European researchers; voluntary organisations; representatives of the upcoming Presidency of the Council of European Union of Spain were present and made the workshop a success.

For the detailed programme of the workshop including links to the presentations and speeches held, please see below. The list of participants can be found here and pictures made during the event here.

Steps towards equal opportunities to migrant elders across Europe

Programme of the workshop in Brussels

13 October 2009 in the Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union in Brussels

Conference languages: German and English (simultaneous translation)

Moderation: Ms Dr. Vera Gerling, GER-ON Consult & Research, Dortmund

10:00 – 10:30              Opening

10:30 – 10:35              Welcome

• Mr Hans H. Stein, Permanent Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union in Brussels, Director (in German)
  
  

10:35 – 11:00              The project Active Ageing of Migrant Elders across Europe (AAMEE)- the most essential results

• Mr Dr. Christof Eichert, Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Head of Department "Integration und Generation"; accompanying powerpoint presentation (both in German)
  
  

New Strategiesin Europe for Migrant Elders

11:00 – 11:30           Migrant Elders in Europe- demographic facts and perspectives

• Mr Ralf Jacob, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (DG EMPL),Head of Unit "Social and Demographic Analysis"
  
  

11:30 – 12:00           The perspective of the European Parliament

• Ms Jean Lambert, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Member of the Intergroup on Ageing
  
  

12:00 – 13:00              Lunch

13:00 – 13:45              European research, research gaps and perspectives for further research

• Mr Prof. Dr. Klaus Schriewer, Universidad de Murcia, Spain - Present research on Migrant Elders (in German)
  
  

in cooperation with

• Ms Prof. Dr. Anna Krasteva, Centre for migration studies (CERMES), New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria, - Research gaps and perspectives for further research
  
  
  

Active ageing, mutual integration, empowerment - strategies for equal opportunities?

Part 1

13:45 – 14:30              Perspectives for the mutual integration- role of voluntary work

• Mr Kenan Küçük, Multicultural Forum e.V., Germany, Managing Director- Good practice of voluntary work across Europe

in cooperation with

• Ms Glenda Watt, City of Edinburgh Council, Scotland, U.K, Strategy Manager "A City for All Ages- Edinburgh's Plan for Older People, member of the advisory board of AAMEE- Recommendations for voluntary work with Migrant Elders in Europe
  
  

14.30 - 14.45               Coffee break

Part 2:

14:45 – 16:00              Discussion: How to promote equal opportunities by active ageing, mutual integration and empowerment

Moderation: Mr Prof. Dr. John Eade, Executive Director of CRONEM (Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism), Surrey and Roehampton Universities, UK

Aim: find out and specify perspectives in Europe which have been initiated by Active Ageing of Migrant Elders across Europe concerning equal opportunities and which go far beyond the AAMEE-project. Recognizing that migrants in voluntary organisations and voluntary organisations for migrants play an essential role.

• Mr Carlos Garcia de Cortazar, Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Consejero Coordinador de Trabajo e Inmigración
• Ms Iwona Piórko, European Commission, Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security (DG JLS), Policy Officer, Unit "Immigration and Integration"
• Ms Marta Maria Ferreira Lourenco, European Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC), Head of Unit "Education of Adults"
• Mr Walter Leitermann, German Association of Cities and Towns, Head of the Brussels Office
• Mr Dr. Christof Eichert, Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Head of Department "Integration und Generation"
  
  
  

Summary moderation

16:00 – 16:30              Coffee break

16:30                            End of workshop