European Reintegration Networking

Reintegration Approaches and Policies on EU level 
- Analysis and Recommendations

Regional workshop of Southern European Countries 

Programm

Presse

Short Report Workshop Griechenland

The workshop for the Mediterranean Countries took place from September 4 to 7 in Greece. This time, representatives of NGOs and governments from Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain met in Katerini near Thessaloniki to discuss the reintegration policies and activities in their countries. Although the Mediterranean countries had traditionally been countries of emigration and immigration is a relatively new phenomenon for them, there is a considerable number of organisations and institutions which deal with migration in general and the reintegration of foreigners in particular. 

The following persons gave us an overview on the reintegration policies, players, programmes and projects in their countries:

• Nick Marinakis, Greek European Action Group of Social Policy, Greece
• Anna Lisa Lelli, Consorzio Italiano di Solidarietà, Italy
• María de Zabala, Comité Internacional de Rescate, Spain
• Arnaud de la Tour, Intercooperação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal

After the country reports, we split up in working groups to discuss about « return counselling and country of origin information » and « social and economical reintegration ». In the working groups, we faced once more the problem that there is no common terminology on migration. If a Spanish person speaks about migrants, he or she does not necessary refer to the same group of people as a Greek or Italian person does.

In Katerini, it was for the first time that local politicians took notice of our workshop. We met with the prefect of Pieria for a quick exchange, followed by a small press conference.

Once again, this workshop would not have been possible without the support of the European Refugee Fund. A special thanks goes to Henry Liesche and Dr. Nikos Voulgarakis who helped us to organise this event in Greece.