Three questions to: Paul Soete, European Economic and Social Committee

In our Q&A series “Three Questions To”, we present different European perspectives on migration, participation and local inclusion, this time with Paul Soete, Chair of the Group on Immigration and Integration, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EESC is an advisory body to the EU, representing employers’ and workers’ organisations and other interest groups. Within […]
Three questions for Sammy Mahdi, Chair of the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CDV) party and former Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration

Why is it so important today to empower migrants and refugees in Europe by letting them contribute to the local communities? Sammy Mahdi: People need to have meaningful relations, they want to feel useful and to be accepted. The means to find these building blocks in life are all about participation and contribution to local […]
Three questions to… Monique Pariat, Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs at the European Commission

Why is it so important for Europe today that we empower migrants and refugees by letting them contribute to their new local communities? Monique Pariat: Integration is a two-way process – local communities also have a key role to play. We need to support migrants first and foremost to help them become independent, find work, […]