Conferences

What if Mayors Ruled Migration?

Practical information

Friday 13 December 2019, 17:00-19:00
This event is free of charge, but registration is mandatory.

Where? Perspective Brussels, Rue de Namur 59, 1000 Brussels

Immigration governance has become so polarized these days that the EU and the European nation-states have difficulties agreeing on the way forward. Let’s try to imagine what would happen if they would decide to transfer considerable policy-making autonomy for migration to cities. Cities organize in international networks like the Mayors Migration Council, as they did on the occasion of the intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Migration Compact, in December 2018. Can cities rescue states and the EU from their failure in dealing with migration and diversity issues? Would migration governance be more progressive if it would be initiated by cities? More pragmatic? More efficient? And how to deal with policy divergence? This panel debate with academics and mayors digs deeper into this provocative thought-experiment on one of the most salient policy issues of today. 

Speakers

  • Prof. Dr. Tiziana Caponio - Department of Culture, Politics and Society – University of Turin, and Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute 
  • Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven
  • Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk
  • Prof. Dr. Eric Corijn, Cosmopolis, Centre for Urban Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Prof. Dr. Ilke Adam (Chair and Moderator), Institute for European Studies & BIRMM, Vrije Universiteit Brussel