European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is organising a two-day event closing the European “One-stop mobility shops” project

Evening Debate
“Free movement of persons in the recession period”
11 May 2009, Brussels

This debate is the first part of the event. It will address a number of questions concerning the impact of the economic crisis on mobility as well as preventing protectionism and xenophobic reactions to the free movement of persons. We hope the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimír Špidla will deliver a keynote speech. Given the profile of the speakers, we expect to attract around 200 participants.

Speakers will include:
Ms Madeleine Sumption, Associate Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
Mr Jakob Von Weizsäcker, Research Fellow, BRUEGEL think-thank
Ms Christiane Dienel, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt
Ms Catelene Passchier, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

Conference
“Who is responsible for the vulnerable intra-EU migrants and how does the current economic crisis affect them?”
12 May 2009, Brussels

The conference will be held at the European Economic and Social Committee. It opens with a Citizen’s Group as the first item on the agenda and closes with a summary of conclusions and recommendations. We hope to have a wide range of professional groups in attendance, including European and national level decision makers, local authorities, various non–government organizations and academics.

Speakers will include:
Ms Juliet Prager, EPIM Chair, Network of European Foundations
Dr Dirk Gebhardt, Programme Officer, Migration and Integration, EUROCITIES
Mr Peter Ramsden, Social Inclusion & Governance Pole Manager, URBACT
Ms Ewa Sadowska, Chief Executive Officer, Barka UK
Ms Siobhan O’Donoghue, Director, Migrant Rights Centre (MRCI)
Mr Bernd Hemingway, Regional Representative, International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
Mrs Bernadette Mc Aliskey, Director, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (S.T.E.P.)
Dr Catherine Péquart, Director General, Association Charonne
Ms Adriana Opromolla, Senior Social Policy Officer, Caritas-Europa
Mr Freek Spinnewijn, Director of European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA)
Dr Rudolf Munoz, Lecturer, Liège University
Mr José Isaias Rodriguez Garcia Caro, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Mr Jerome Vignon, Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Directorate E - Social Protection and Integration, European Commission

Programme of the evening debate (download here )

Programme of the conference (download here )

More information about the One-Stop Mobility Shops project

Partners are grateful to the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities for its financial support