European Migration Forum (EMF)

The Forum brings together a wide range of participants from civil society to relevant national authorities of EU countries, as well as EU institutions.

EU institutions and international organisations

Representatives of the following EU institutions regularly participate in the Forum:

• European Parliament
• European Commission
• European Union Agency for Asylum
• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• the Expert Group on the views of migrants in the field of migration, asylum and integration
• European Committee of the Regions

Apart from the European Union Institutions, international organisations such as the Red Cross, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) previously attended the Forum.

Civil society

EMF organisers select organisations from civil society through an open call. Participants are chosen based on their area of work and experience in connection with the topics that will be discussed throughout the Forum. In the past, civil society and foundations on migration participated, such as: Eurocities, European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Save the Children, New Women Connectors, New European Business Confederation and SOLIDAR.

Forum organisers also invite Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) - awarded projects to present their work and share best practice.

As in previous years, the Forum Bureau has decided to organise a consultation with civil society on the topic of the next Forum. This consultation consists of a written survey and a meeting. You can take part in both or choose to participate in only the survey or the event.

The survey

Providing input for discussion on 30 March, the survey presents four topics that all could be discussed at the Forum. They reflect political interest as well as preliminary feedback received by the Forum Bureau members. The civil society organisations are asked to indicate the aspects related to the suggested topics they are most interested in. Deadline for replying to the survey: Friday, 24 March.

The event

The meeting will take place in the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee on 30 March 2023. All civil society organisations interested in the Forum will be welcome to attend this consultation.

The outcome of the discussion will then be further elaborated by the Forum Bureau during their meeting on the same day, for a final proposal to be made.

When: Thursday, 30 March 2023, 10.00-12.30

Where: VMA building, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1000 Bruxelles; meeting room VMA2

Please register here by noon Monday, 27 March– only if you plan to attend the meeting in person in the EESC building, Brussels.

We look forward to hearing your views!

Should you have any questions, please get in touch via eu-migration-forum@eesc.europa.eu

Each EMF agenda is unique and Forum topics vary every year. However, discussions and events are standard. Participants attend:

• keynote speeches
• panel debates
• workshops
• presentations of best practices and projects at the Networking Village
• the session “The Floor is Yours” where participants suggest further topics to discuss in parallel break-out sessions
• reception events with further networking opportunities

For more info on the agenda and outcomes of past EMFs, please consult the below section "Themes and outcomes of the European Migration Forum meetings".

With EMF’s diverse list of participants, discussion flourishes and Forum outcomes result from combining experience gathered both at decision-making level and work “on the ground”.

Because EU institutions organise and actively participate in EMF, they always strive to utilise the Forum’s outcomes for shaping future EU law and strategy on migration, asylum and integration. As an example, the “10 Recommendations adopted by the Forum” from the 5^th EMF were considered in the European Commission’s Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion.

Before the actual Forum event takes place, the EMF Bureau takes care of meeting agendas and organises the work of the Forum itself. The Bureau has six members:

• one representative from the European Commission
• one from the EESC
• four members of civil society organisations (two coming from national-level organisations and the other two from EU-level organisations)

The civil society members of the Bureau are appointed for two years following an election that takes place during the Forum. The Bureau meets a maximum of 4 times a year, either in-person or online.

• 7^th EMF meeting (October 2022): Youth inclusion: key to successful migrant integration (Agenda - Report).
• 6^th (virtual) EMF meeting (October 2021): From pandemic to recovery: challenges and best practices in migration management (Agenda - Report).
• 5^th EMF meeting (April 2019): From global to local governance of migration: How to ensure safe and regular pathways to the EU (Agenda - Report).
• 4^th EMF meeting (March 2018): Towards a more inclusive labour market for migrants: Seizing the potential by addressing the challenges (Agenda – Report)
• 3^rd EMF meeting (March 2017): Migrants' access to the EU, to rights and to services - Challenges and ways forward (Agenda – Report)
• 2^nd EMF meeting (April 2016): Long-term approach to sustainable labour migration and successful integration (Agenda – Report)
• 1^st EMF meeting (January 2015): Safe routes, safe futures. How to manage the mixed flows of migrants across the Mediterranean? (Agenda – Report)