1. Diversity & Cohesion within the EU The Migration Crisis – Europe at best or worst? Keith Best for TEAM Global Former MP, Chief Executive Immigration Advisory Service, Freedom from Torture, Vice Chair European Council on Refugees & Exiles

2. Current situation Part of global phenomenon: >19 million people forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution, and oppression; daily 42,500 more join them Four million people, nearly a fifth of Syria's population, have fled the country since the war began in 2011 + 1.1 million refugees from Somalia and 2.59 million from Afghanistan Most are in camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey – often dangerous with no future; EU gave $1.2b in summer – far short of $5.5b in aid that the UN says is needed for these refugees, as well as another $2.9b for displaced Syrians within Syria (UK prepared to offer £475m – 50% aid budget) Climate change: UN estimates 50m sub-Saharans will move north in next 20 years (eg Senegal crops failing) Lure is jobs + remittances NOT benefits Spontaneous arrivals in Europe: no attempt to distinguish refugees from economic migrants

3. Response 2,500 drowned this summer; Lesbos cemetery full NIMBY Fences going up all over Europe – Tusk: risk to Schengen Germany 800k – is Merkel mad or shrewd? Profile of Europe Clearly, no one country can solve – needs united response Responsibility to Prevent, Protect & Rebuild

4. We cannot take them all – but can we do more? International efforts to stop conflict and development to counter need to flee Refugee camps near to source of conflict with proper facilities, education, welfare etc Neighbouring countries should take their share (Saudi Arabia?) Right to take UNHCR mandated refugees from camps – but cannot ignore spontaneous arrivals

5. Valletta Summit 11-12 November, Malta Concerted EU effort more appropriate than individual countries All things to everyone: five priority domains 1.Development benefits of migration – boost socio-economic development, enhance employment, EU/Africa vocational training networks, build resilience, self-reliance, faster & cheaper remittances, diaspora engagement, prevent new conflicts, support state building

6. 2.Promote legal migration especially students, researchers, entrepreneurs, facilitate issuing of visas 3.Reinforce protection of refugees, uphold human rights of all migrants, life-saving emergency assistance (food, shelter, education) 4.Prevention of irregular migration, smuggling, trafficking, improve intelligence gathering & sharing, fight corruption 5.Return, readmission & reintegration

7. Problem solved? €1.8 billion Trust Fund: "stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa” [Marshall Plan for Europe at end of WWII was $13b (c.$130b currently) ie >70 times more than Valletta] All by end 2016! UK to take 20k over five years: one refugee per 6,750 households/one per 16,000 people 25k asylum applications in UK (need a sense of proportion); Germany 110k, France 60k

8. Integration NOT being all the same but respecting and enjoying diversity of custom, cuisine, dress BUT Common communication (English) and shared values (eg democracy, rule of law, non- discrimination) – NO to FGM, forced marriages UK’s history – one of the most diverse populations, tolerance but also xenophobia Fear of immigration = fear of change, so we should ease it

9. Anticipating change European Refugee Fund (ERF) - funding to Member States to support the reception of asylum seekers, and the reception and integration of refugees European Integration Fund €825 million for legally arrived migrants (to June 2015): total sum to UK 2007-2013 €110.521m Why did we not anticipate E European workers to E Anglia etc? Need better planning Local community initiatives are most effective – ecumenical work, local authorities etc END

10. Diversity/Cohesion in EU "United in diversity” [EU motto 2000] 87 distinct peoples of Europe: 33 form majority population in at least one sovereign state, remaining 54 are ethnic minorities Different recording of ethnicity – France Different development West (old states) and East (new states) Germany: FRG/DDR attitudes Roma Europe’s largest ethnic minority (of 10-12m, 6m live in EU, most of them EU citizens). Many Roma in the EU are victims of prejudice and social exclusion, despite the fact that EU countries have banned discrimination

11. What is being done? Europe is “the culture capital of the world” The 'Business Case for Diversity' shows that diversity management - whereby employers recognise, value and include women and men of different ages, abilities, ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation - makes good business sense - EU Commission Justice – Diversity Charters Council of Europe report 2011 “Living together: Combining diversity and freedom in 21st-century Europe” to negotiate “the challenges arising from the resurgence of intolerance and discrimination in Europe” – people “tormented by the twin fear of being “swamped” by an uncontrolled influx of immigrants and/or massacred by Islamic terrorists”

12. FDR’s inaugural address March 4, 1933 “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself— nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”