Last week the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) together with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) organised a two-day Winter Academy in the European Parliament. About 90 young liberals and democrats from 27 European countries met to discuss issues related to migration, integration and the situation of refugees. The Winter Academy was co-organised with the Young Democrats for Europe (YDE).
Dr. Marlou Schrover of Leiden University provided an overview of the history of migration, while
Prof. Gerald Willmann from the University of Leuven and
Prof. Dr. Marc de Vos from the Itinera Institute gave an insight into the economics of migration.
The meeting created a significant contact opportunity for young liberals & democrats with Members of the European Parliament, as they had a meeting with the ALDE group where they discussed with
Graham Watson MEP, group leader, and many other distinguished MEPs.
Further possibilities for exchange between the young politicians and ALDE MEPs were provided by panel discussion sessions, which featured such renowned members of the European parliament as Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Alexander Alvaro MEP, Jolanta Dičkutė MEP and Victoria Mohacsi MEP. Among other things, the participants discussed about the protection of EU borders, the integration of second and third generation immigrants into society, the problem of discrimination as well as the European Blue Card.
In a joint session with the ALDE and Liberal International seminar on Zimbabwe, the participants were informing themselves about some of the roots of illegal migration to Europe and what can be done in order to stabilise Africa.
