Join the Sessions on the Challenges of Asylum and Migration

The MEDAM team would be delighted to welcome you to their panel session on EU-Africa migration challenges, networking reception, and research seminar at the Global Solutions Summit (18-19 March 2019 in Berlin), where renowned researchers and international policy and business leaders will address the world’s most urgent problems, including climate change, sustainable development, and cooperation with African nations.

MEDAM panel session
“Governing migration within and from Africa: What is Europe’s role?”

Migration within Africa and from Africa to other continents–mainly to the Gulf States and to Europe–is often irregular. Some migrants travel at high cost and at considerable risk to themselves or end up living in precarious circumstances. For migration to be safe and development-friendly, it needs to be legal. Within Africa, recent moves towards regional integration–with free movement of persons and the right to residency and establishment–point in the right direction. Yet, African and international experiences show that there is a long way from sharing objectives to establishing a well-functioning system of migration governance. A common EU-African agenda to handle the challenges of migration is now of unprecedented importance.

But do the priorities and needs of the EU align with those of their African counterparts? Do the African governments’ priorities match those of their citizens? What changes to existing arrangements would generate the largest benefits?

These and other questions will be discussed in this interactive session by Franzisca Zanker (moderator), Arnold Bergstraesser Institute, University of Freiburg, Tsion Tadesse Abebe, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Leander Kandilige, Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, and Linda Adhiambo Oucho, African Migration and Development Policy Centre (AMADPOC).

The panel session will take place on Monday, March 18, 2019 at the School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin. Following the session, a networking reception will provide an opportunity to meet and continue discussions with the speakers as well as the MEDAM researchers.

Furthermore, an open research seminar will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Jasper Dag Tjaden, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and MEDAM researchers Mauro Lanati, Migration Policy Centre (MPC), and Tobias Stöhr, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), will present research papers on the impact of information campaigns on irregular migration, the role of non-transferred aid, and the refugee and asylum debate as an example of new societal divisions.

About MEDAM

The Mercator Dialogue on Migration and Asylum (MEDAM) is a research and consultation project funded by Stiftung Mercator. It identifies and closes gaps in existing research and develops specific recommendations for policy makers. Research partners are the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a think tank in Brussels. The Global Solutions Summit is one of its major annual outreach events.

The Global Solutions Summit

The Global Solutions Summit aims to provide concrete policy recommendations and visions for G20 leaders and serves as a stepping stone to the Japanese T20 Summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will address some 1,200 participants with her keynote. Other high-ranking speakers include Frans Timmermans, EU Commission and Mohammed Ibrahim, Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Media Accreditation

Increased security necessitates media request accreditation to attend the Summit. Please send an email to press@global-solutions.international, stating your name, title, media outlet, e-mail, phone number and date of birth. A copy of a national ID card or passport and a valid press card must be attached. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 11, 2019.

Pool cards for restricted-access events will be given to a small number of videographers and photographers drawn from among those who submit a timely accreditation request.