Brussels Forum, Day 1 #BF7 - Immigration, etc...

Former Senator from Utah, Bob Bennet raised the issue of immigration and demographics during today's first panel  titled "Global Europe: Game Over?".  Immigration is a complicated and very political issue, as seen most recently in the French presidential election.  First, it is clear that Europe will need immigration in order to maintain it's population, however, the big question is what kind of immigration?  Most European countries have attempted to stop or at least slow immigration since the end of labor importation in the 1970s yet face growing ethnic or religious minority populations, partially due to family reunification, and refugees.  In the last couple of years politicians like David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have said that multiculturalism has failed.  One can argue what that means, but it is clear that the issues around immigration go well beyond demographics. I can't address all of these issues in a blog post, but I encourage those who want more information on this topic to look at the websites of the Migration Policy Institute, http://migrationpolicy.org/ and other links which can be found on my other blog:  http://givensimmigration.blogspot.com

Other points of interest, Senator Jeanne Shaheen emphasized the importance of the EU-US relationship, Poland's Foreign Minister Sikorski emphasized the need for deeper political integration in the EU.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen emphasized the strength and importance of the NATO alliance.  He emphasized that without action by the UN Security Council that "NATO has no intention of intervening in Syria" and blamed Russia and China for encouraging the Assad regime.

There was a spirited discussion about Iran, and the "night owl" sessions focused on Syria, Asia and "soft power".

Brussels Forum

I will be blogging from the Brussels Forum this weekend, you can follow the livestream at http://www.livestream.com/brusselsforum and on Twitter you can follow me @TerriGivens and @gmfus today starting at 14:30 CET #BF7

The website for the Brussels Forum has lists of participants, briefing papers and the agenda: http://brussels.gmfus.org/

Greece, Illegal Immigration and update on Euro crisis

The Migration Policy Institute has a new article on the issue of illegal immigration in Greece as it deals with its fiscal crisis: http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=884

Last week Germany and Austria called on Greece to tighten it's borders: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/world/europe/germany-and-austria-call-on-greece-to-tighten-immigration-controls.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1332091973-4JZDUAmCeNThiwEvMq1Nng

Business Insider has an overview of what is going on in Eurozone countries this week: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-quick-guide-to-everything-going-on-in-europe-right-now-2012-3

This week I am preparing to attend the German Marshall Fund of the United States' Brussel Forum http://brussels.gmfus.org/ I will be blogging and tweeting @TerriGivens during the conference which begins this coming Friday.

Minorities and Politics in Europe

My latest edited volume "Immigrant Politics" is scheduled to be released soon, so I couldn't resist putting in a link to this article from the UK Guardian.  Apparently demographics are playing a role in the Tory's focus on ethnic minority voters:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/07/tory-party-natural-home-ethnic-minority?CMP=twt_fd

Immigration is also a hot topic in the French presidential election.  Nicolas Sarkozy is in a fight for his life with strong contenders on the left, but also a threat from Marine Le Pen on the right.  This weekend he threatened to exit the Schengen area if more isn't done to control immigration: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577275313803633368.html
This has been an ongoing issue, particularly since the Arab Spring and the flood of refugees heading to Italy's island of Lampedusa, hoping to enter Italy and ultimately get to France. Another view of Sarkozy from Steven Erlanger of the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/world/europe/sarkozy-in-rousing-talk-takes-conservative-stands.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The fiscal crisis news continues unabated - Greece has been declared as officially defaulting as of Friday, so credit default insurance kicks in: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304537904577275462837459448.html

Paul Krugman writes on the lessons to be learned from Greece in his latest column: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/opinion/krugman-what-greece-means.html?src=tp

On a brighter note for the EU, Slovakia has elected a left government that should be more friendly to the bailout: http://news.yahoo.com/pro-european-left-sweeps-slovak-vote-targets-rich-160524601.html

Women, Immigration and leadership in Europe

In honor of International Women's Day, I want to highlight the issues around women and immigration in Europe.  Here's a link to a video done by the European Parliament in 2007 on women and immigration in Europe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBEHEyovdzk

A few years ago, I took part in a Fulbright scholars' program on Muslims in France and Germany.  One of the challenges that immigrant women face is dealing with foreign school systems when they often don't speak the language.  Some schools were working with immigrant mother's, providing language training, and making sure they received information, but this continues to be a challenge.

The blog "Black Women in Europe" has put together a list of powerful black women in Europe: http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com

Another blog focuses on networking for immigrant women: http://migrentrepreneurwomannetwork.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/networking-for-women-entrepreneurs-in-europe/

Beatrice Achaleke runs http://www.diversityleadership.eu/ which has an annual conference for women.

Happy blogging!

National Politics and the European Fiscal Crisis

Despite EU leaders coming to agreement on new measures to handle the Euro crisis, countries like Spain and Ireland are taking actions on their own to deal with their domestic issues and constituencies.

The latest on Spain from the Irish Times "Spain says it will ignore this year's EU bet target": http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0303/1224312713374.html

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has managed to weather the storm so far, maintaining her popularity with the Germany public:  http://www.businessinsider.com/why-germans-still-love-angela-merkel-2012-3

Portugal's president says "new" poor can't take more austerity measures:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/portugal-austerity-idUSL5E8DT5EV20120229

Ireland and the referendum: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/uk-europe-ireland-referendum-idUKTRE81R1W420120228

...and I can't resist one more story on Greece:  http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/opinion/greece-democracy/index.html?hpt=ieu_mid

European Summit: mixed results

Quick Friday morning update:  25 of 27 member states sign off on a new treaty "designed to prevent the 17 members of the eurozone from living beyond their means and avoid a repeat of the region's crippling debt crisis." http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20120302&ID=14851984

However, Eurozone members delayed paying half of the most recent Greek bailout amid concerns that the Greek government would not be able to implement all of the austerity measures needed to reduce debt: http://www.kurat.com/links/eurozone-delays-half-of-greeces-funds-ftcom?&stream=greek-crisis-0
From the BBC:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17219379

David Cameron pushes for changes to communique: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/02/eu-summit-david-cameron-britain-voice-heard?newsfeed=true

Barroso pleased with outcome - press release:  http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/12/146

Spain will miss deficit target: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/03/02/spain_says_it_will_miss_2012_deficit_target/