International Conference: Migration – a progressive formula

Conference | 24 - 25 September 2024 in Berlin | #FutureOfMigration

Migration is a poignant issue – in Germany and worldwide.  And it is already clear: The challenges are only going to increase further in light of global crises and demographic developments.

A key task going forward is to create and guarantee protection and future prospects at home, in Europe and beyond.

On the way towards a modern immigration society the Federal Government has implemented key projects, including the Skilled Labour Immigration Act and the reform of the nationality law. But there is still a lot to do.

This applies in particular to the municipalities. Dealing with diversity has become part of everyday life in most companies, schools and communities. But if cohesion is to last, we need to recognise that integration requires constant effort, as well as investment in public infrastructure that benefits everyone.

Together with you we want to push the envelope on the issue of migration and progressively spell it out.
 

The conference was organised by the Divisions for Analysis, Planning and Consulting, International Cooperation and Civic Education and Political Dialogue.

Contact

Joana Marta Sommer
030 26935-8304
Joana.MartaSommer(at)fes.de

Vanicha Weirauch
030 269 35-8333
Vanicha.Weirauch(at)fes.de

The migration policy work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

more

Review



People from Syria wait at the border in Turkey to be allowed to enter Syria.

Undoing asylum: Syria after Assad and the collapse of refugee protections

24.07.2025 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Refugee Policy
The Global Forum on Migration and Development addresses the issue of regularised return options. The situation in Syria demonstrates that a rights-based return process must be truly safe and voluntary.
more information
 
Spanish Presidency giant placard on EU council, in the EU council headquarters Atrium in Brussels, Belgium, 02 July 2023.

Ready for Adoption?

07.12.2023 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
The Spanish presidency of the Council played an important role in the negotiations of the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum. A matter at the heart of Union’s debates.
more information
 
A woman speaks at the Future Forum Municipality at the conference "Migration - a progressive formula".

How Germany’s "debt brake" is hindering integration at local level

12.12.2024 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Integration Policy
Decent integration projects are struggling due to a lack of funds. The government wants to cut back on language courses – and it is migrants who are paying the price. Why a reform of the debt brake could open up new avenues for financing...
more information
 
Polizist steht vor Überwachungsmonitoren

Between deterrence and deals

05.06.2025 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
The Eastern Mediterranean remains a hotspot of Europe’s migration policy. A comparative analysis draws on studies from Egypt, Lebanon, Greece and Cyprus.
more information
 
A woman writes "Worship your God" in Arabic, while a group of young volunteers paint a mural with the symbol of peace on a wall on the outskirts of Damascus.

International Women's Day: Not only part of the conversation, but leading the way

06.03.2025 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy, Gender Weltweit
“Women have been at the forefront of the struggle […] and turned into leaders.”, says Sana Mustafa. Why Syrian women are critical for the future of the country.
more information
 

“Equality of Rights for Everyone, Everywhere”

03.12.2018 News, Interview, Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
An interview with Felix Braunsdorf on this year's "People's Global Action on Migration, Development & Human Rights" (PGA) in Marrakesh.
more information
 

"We now have the opportunity to turn the tide."

01.04.2022 Migration policy, Zeitenwende Frieden und Sicherheit, Politik für Europa
Will the exodus of refugees from Ukraine affect the faltering negotiations on reforming the EU's asylum system? An interview with Birgit Sippel, Home Affairs spokesperson for the Social Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament.
more information
 

An Exodus on the Eve of the Global Compact on Migration

03.12.2018 News, Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
10 Guideposts for Humane Migration Governance. A contribution by Allianza Americas.
more information
 

The Geneva Refugee Convention Turns 70

28.07.2021 Refugee Policy
On this occasion we spoke with UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, about the right to asylum and Europe’s role and responsibilities.
more information
 
A barrier installed at the beginning of a bridge crossing the Niger River, as seen from Benin.

At the expense of the population

18.12.2024 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
The harsh consequences of the border closure between Benin and Niger. Guest article by Abou-Bakari Imorou on the occasion of the International Migrants Day
more information
 

We face great competition in acquiring skilled workers

13.06.2024 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Integration Policy, Migration policy
The SPD parliamentary group discussed migration partnerships at its conference. We spoke to Sebastian Hartmann, the SPD parliamentary group's spokesman on home affairs.
more information
 

Looking beyond the end of our noses

25.04.2024 Displacement, Migration, Integration, Migration policy
Svenja Schulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, talks about how German development policy contributes to just and rights-based migration partnerships
more information
 

Reem Alabali-Radovan

more

Carolina Gottardo

Carolina Gottardo

Juliane Seifert

Juliane Seifert

Dirk Wiese

Dirk Wiese

Programme


Conference hall

Welcome address

Martin Schulz, President of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Conference moderation: Boussa Thiam, WDR COSMO

Conference hall

Opening

Thoughts from the future

Dr Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Berlin

Aoun Abbas Sahi, Senior journalist and media trainer, Islamabad

Rebecca Liebig, Member of the Federal Executive Board of ver.di, Berlin

Moderation: Boussa Thiam, WDR COSMO

Break

Future forum on Work

Fair recruitment – fair working conditions: labour migration that benefits all

Dr Jan Schneider, Head of Research Unit & Deputy Managing Director of the Expert Council on Migration and Integration, Berlin

Dr Gunilla Fincke, Head of Division, Skills, Vocational Training and Securing a Skilled Labour Force, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Berlin

Seeta Sharma, Migration expert, New Delhi

Moderation: Joana Marta Sommer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 2 | Room 6.01

 

Future forum on Municipality

A Social City for all – managing cohabitation

Prof Dr Birgit Glorius, Professor of Human Geography with a focus on European Migration Studies, Chemnitz University of Technology

Arlin Cakal-Rasch, Municipal Integration Center, Wuppertal

Aziz Bozkurt, State Secretary for Social Affairs, Berlin

Jenni Tahvanainen, Project Manager, Employment and Integration Services, City of Vantaa

Moderation: Julia Bläsius, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 2 | Room 6.09

 

Future forum on Cohesion

Thinking ahead in an immigration society – equal opportunities and an orientation towards the common good

Dr Leander Scholz, Philosopher und author, Berlin

Dr Delal Atmaca, Managing Director, DaMigra e.V., Berlin

Dr Lisa Pelling, Director, Think Tank Arena Idé, Stockholm

Moderation: Philipp Kauppert, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 1 | Conference Hall

 

Future forum on Human Rights

Safe, orderly and regular – mobility in a period of climate change and conflict

Anna Terrón i Cusí, former Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration, Spain, Barcelona

Amera Markous, Migration expert, Tripoli

Nadja Sthamer, Member of the German Bundestag, Berlin

Moderation: Annette Schlicht, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 1 | Room 121

 

Break

Conference hall

Poetry Slam

Abdul Kader Chahin, Comedian and satirist, Duisburg

Conference hall

Discussion round

Wanted: a progressive narrative on migration

Reem Alabali-Radovan, Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Member of the German Bundestag, Berlin

Dr Helene Bubrowski, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Table.Media, Berlin

Dr Özgür Özvatan, Head of the Department of Integration Research and Social Policy, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Sebastian Hartmann, Member of the German Bundestag, Berlin

Moderation: Philipp Kauppert, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

Conclusion

Conference hall

Welcome address and recap

Conference moderation: Boussa Thiam, WDR COSMO

Workshops Part I

 

Workshop on Work

Should I Stay or Should I Go? – How Germany can hang on to foreign skilled workers

Doritt Komitowski, research associate, Minor – Wissenschaft Gesellschaft, Berlin

Anna Stahl-Czechowska, project leader at the Regional Integration Network Berlin, Senate Department for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination, Berlin

Moderation: Joana Marta Sommer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 1 | Room 121

 

Workshop on Municipality

Participating together, shaping together – enhancing social and political visibility in an immigration society

Ryyan Alshebl, mayor of Ostelsheim

Dr Cihan Sinanoğlu, NaDiRa/German Center for Integration and Migration Research DeZIM e.V., Berlin

Fatma Karacakurtoglu, Train of Hope Dortmund e.V. 

Moderation: Anni Bauschmann, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bonn / Oliver Schael, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Stuttgart

House 2 | Room 6.09

 

Workshop on Cohesion

Political strategies for dealing with right-wing migration discourse

Paulina Fröhlich, Deputy Managin Director, Das Progressive Zentrum, Berlin

Fabio Ghelli, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Mediendienst Integration, Berlin

Dr Lisa Pelling, Director, Think Tank Arena Idé, Stockholm

Moderation: Kristina Birke Daniels, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Stockholm

House 1 | Conference Hall

 

Workshop on Human Rights

A Mediterranean view – EU asylum policy and its impact on Germany 

Angeliki Dimitriadi, Senior Research Fellow and head of the Migration Programme, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), Athens

Amina Fahmy, political scientist and consultant, Cairo

Aurelia Streit, research associate, German Center for Integration and Migration Research DeZIM e.V., Berlin

Moderation: Ronja Schiffer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Cairo

House 2 | Room 6.01

 

 

Workshops Part II

 

Workshop on Work

New approaches to labour migration: do migration agreements lead to win-win-win situations?

Sami Adouani, project leader, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Tunis

Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, migration policy expert, Bonn

Svenja Niederfranke, research fellow, Center for Migration, German Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin

Moderation: Alexander Rosenplänter, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 1 | Conference Hall

 

Workshop on Municipality

Municipal safety at local level and for everyone – integration and safety in the municipality

Thilo Cablitz, Senate Department for the Interior and Sport, Berlin 

Hamza El-Khalaf, career coach,Outreach GmbH, Berlin

Dunja Kreiser, Member of the German Bundestag, Berlin

Sunny Steen, youth social work at 'High-Deck-Siedlung', Outreach GmbH, Berlin

Moderation: Felix Eikenberg, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

House 1 | Room 121

 

Workshop on Cohesion

Someone who votes must be integrated, right? On the political participation of people with a migration background 

Canan Canli, chair of the Migration and Integration Working Group, SPD, Schleswig-Holstein

Catrina Schläger, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

Dr Friederike Römer, Co-Head of Consensus and Conflict Department, German Center for Integration and Migration Research DeZIM e.V., Berlin

Moderation: Dr Vinzenz Huzel, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Wiesbaden

House 2 | Room 6.09

 

Workshop on Human Rights

Migration and gender equality – protection and safety on the migration route

Inkeri von Hase, Global Coordinator, Making Migration Safe for Women, UN Women, Geneva

Dima Mahjoub, New Women Connectors, Berlin

Mimi Vu, expert on tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, Saigon 

Moderation: Dr Salome Lienert, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Geneva

House 2 | Room 6.01

 

Conference hall

Panel Discussion

Ready for action

Michael van der Cammen, Director International Relations, Migration, Recognition, Labour market admission, International Counselling, Placement, German Public Employment Agency, Nuremberg

Carolina Gottardo, Executive director, International Detention Coalition, Munich

Juliane Seifert, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Berlin

Nursemin Sönmez, Executive director, neue deutsche organisationen, Berlin

Moderation: Boussa Thiam, WDR Cosmo

 

Conclusion

back to top