The Structured Dialogue, organized by the Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs within the European RESTART project was successfully held on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 February 2017, at the European Parliament’s Information Office in Athens. In the Dialogue participated representatives of social entities, officials, mayors, MEPs, MPs, academics and young scientists.
More specifically, on Thursday 2 February, the Structured Dialogue was launched by Mr. Antonakakis G., President and Co-Founder of the Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs, who welcomed the participants and presented the RESTART Project. Later, Mr. Antonakopoulos L., Head of the Information Office of the European Parliament in Greece and Mr. Peroulakis A., Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Greece, welcomed the participants and pointed out the great importance of taking similar initiatives from youth in a period of humanitarian crisis, such as the one of the European Union. He highlighted that the contribution of young people is crucial for producing decisive results.
During the first part of the Dialogue on the topic “The causes of the refugee flows from the Middle East and the attitude of the EU”, the causes of the present situation in the EU territory were extensively presented by expertise academics. The academics were Mr. Filis K., International Counselor and Research Director at the Institute of International Affairs, Mr. Ioakimidis P., Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Athens, and Mr. Papasotiriou Ch., Professor of the Department of International, European and Regional Studies of the Panteion University. The professors, developed the causes of the refugee crisis using historical examples and statistics, giving the speakers the opportunity to add their own thoughts to the analysis and discuss their own views with them.
The second topic, was about the “Existing Situation and Problems in Greece and Europe” with key speakers Ms. K. Nami, Representative of the International Organization for Migration – IOM and Mr. M. Koutoulaki, Regional Planner, Research Coordinator of the DevelopmentLAB, former Special Advisor in the Ministry of Development and in the Ministry of Work. The speakers described to the participants, the actions of their organizations and their humanitarian and academic contributions to the refugee crisis.
On Friday, February 3rd, the Structured Dialogue began with its third theme, “Capacities to manage refugee flows at local and national level”, hosted by the following speakers, Mr. Th. Papatheodorou, PASOK MP, Ms. G. Poulou, Mayor of Livadeon and Mr. L. Papayianakis, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Athens on Immigrants, Refugees and Decentralization. The speakers presented the existing situation at local and national level in which they are active. They referred to the initiatives that have already been taken, as well as, to these that are to be implemented in order to absorb the refugee flows and manage better the degraded situation.
The fourth and last part of the Dialogue focused on the topic “Suggested solutions to the current situation of refugees in social and economic terms”, with main speakers, Mr. A. Kotios, Professor and Dean of the School of Business, Economics and International Studies, University of Piraeus , Mr. M. Kyrkos, MEP with Potami party, Mr. B. Feta, Assistant Researcher of Southeastern Europe ELIAMEP program, Affiliate in EU Policy Hub Albania, Ms. N. Pyrini, Teacher, while Ms. E. Vosenberg’s letter was read, MEP with New Democracy party, who couldn’t attend due to illness. The speakers developed extensively the topic by describing the proposed solutions, which are already in place or are about to be put in, giving the participants the reason to find bests practices. The Institute of Research and Training Institute in European Affairs – I.R.T.E.A. implements the “Reinventing European Solidarity and Raising Tolerance” project, RESTART, within the framework of the European Citizens’ Program, aiming at raising social awareness about the refugee crisis, involving Europe’s young people in the dialogue and promoting of volunteering.