25/05/2011 Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
25.05.2011 – How to handle the large-scale arrival of irregular migrants, asylum seekers and refugees on Europe’s southern shores will be a main focus of meetings of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Corfu, Greece, on 1-2 June 2011.
During the meeting of the main committee (Wednesday 1 June) there will also be an exchange of views with:
- The Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament Rodoula Zissi
- Interior Minister Ioannis Rangousis (to be confirmed)
- Minister for Citizen Protection Christos Papoutsis
- Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Anna Dalara
- The President of the Greek delegation to the Assembly Konstantinos Vrettos
Two related reports – on “Asylum seekers and refugees: sharing responsibilities in Europe” and on “The interception and rescue at sea of asylum seekers, refugees and irregular migrants” – are due to be approved by the committee for plenary debate at the Assembly’s summer session (20-24 June 2011).
On Thursday 2 June, the Sub-committee on Migration will hold an exchange of views with local personalities, including His Excellency the Metropolitan of Corfu, Greece’s Deputy Ombudsman and a representative of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights.
The sub-committee will also hold a hearing on the portrayal of migrants and refugees during election campaigns.
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Both meetings take place in the Grand Mediterraneo Hotel in Ermones, Corfu, beginning at 9.30 a.m. The first part of both meetings, involving the exchanges of view, are open to the press.
Contact: Angus Macdonald, PACE Communication Division, mobile: +33 6 30 49 68 20, e-mail: [email protected]