#refugeeswelcome – Solidarity as the solution to the refugee crisis
After the arrival of more than 17,000 migrants and refugees in Greece, SOLIDAR considers it necessary to properly asses the current humanitarian situation in Greece and how to manage flows of migrants and refugees while fully respecting human rights and international obligations.
In this context, SOLIDAR together with Global Progressive Forum (GPF) and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) are organising the conference “#refugeeswelcome- ’Solidarity as the solution to the refugee crisis”, which will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece on 7-8 May 2017.
The main aim of the conference is to bring together European political leaders, civil society organisations, European and local institutions and researchers, to identify a common approach and common solutions to the current refugee crisis. It will also be an opportunity to assess the current humanitarian situation in Greece and to see up close how dignity can be ensured for those arriving in the European Union.
One of the highlights of the programme is a field visit to the Anagnostopoulou refugee camp in Diavata, which is organised in cooperation with SOLIDAR member organisation ASB and its implementing partners ARSIS Greece and WAHA International.
Participants may attend two different panels and workshops focused on the issue of asylum seeking and the management of asylum seekers and asylum requests in Greece and in the EU. They will also be able to hear from Mr. of Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, one of the keynote speakers.
SOLIDAR would take this opportunity to call on the EU to redouble efforts to support the development of facilities on the mainland to bring reception conditions up to the standards set out in European law as well as to push Member States to speed up the implementation of the EU relocation mechanism which would alleviate the pressure on Greece and guarantee faster access by refugees to asylum procedures.
More information can be found here.
