Away from the spotlight: Balkan route and Visegrad approach to refugees in 2017

22 February, 2017 – 09:30 to 12:30

On the 22nd March 2017, the GLOBSEC Policy Institute will organize a regional workshop titled “Away from the spotlight: Balkan route and Visegrad approach to refugees in 2017“.

Agenda of the Workshop

9.30-10.45 Panel 1: Latest Trends on the Balkan Route

The Balkan route has largely disappeared from the media spotlight. The discussion will aim to provide an update on what is happening now along the Balkan route and consider the prospects and implications on the wider European migration scheme. What are the recent numbers and estimates of migrants on the road? Are there shelters on the way helping survive the winter? Is Belgrade becoming a new Calais? What does it mean for Europe and the success of the reform of EU migration system?

Speakers:

Kristof Bender, European Stability Initiative, Vienna

Gordan Paunovic, Centre for Protection of Refugees ‘InfoPark’, Belgrade

Monika Svetlíková, People in Need Slovakia, Bratislava

Chair: Milan Nič, GLOBSEC Policy Institute, Bratislava

10.45-11.00 Coffee Break

11.00-12.30 Panel 2: Recent Changes in Refugee-Related Policies in Visegrad Countries

What has changed in refugee-related policies and actions in Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic since the migration crisis became prominent in 2015? Is there space for closer cooperation between civil society and government to facilitate relocation and resettlement processes? What is the position of these countries in broader European discussions on migration?

Speakers:

Tomas Jungwirth, Consortium of Migrants Assisting Organisations in Czechia, Prague

Jakub Wiśniewski, GLOBSEC Policy Institute, Bratislava

Edit Zgut, Political Capital, Budapest

Chair: Alena Kudzko, GLOBSEC Policy Institute, Bratislava

The agenda of the workshop is also available for download here.

Please kindly confirm your participation by Friday, 17 February at alexandra.tothova@globsec.org or +421 2 5933 8713