Open or Closed Borders? Understanding Europe's Migration Challenge
Open or Closed Borders? Understanding Europe's Migration Challenge
Featuring
Thomas Zwiefelhofer
Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
Catherine Wiesner
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Shelly Pitterman
Regional Representative for the USA and the Caribbean, UNHCR
Moderated by
Heather A. Conley
Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic
Director, CSIS Europe Program
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
CSIS | 1st Floor Conference Center
1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Please join us for a discussion featuring Thomas Zwiefelhofer, Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, and UNHCR Regional Representative for the USA and the Caribbean Shelly Pitterman as they assess Europe's ongoing migration crisis and recent decisions taken by European leaders on border control and asylum policies. Although not a member of the European Union, the Principality of Liechtenstein is a member of the Schengen Agreement enabling border-free travel among 26 European countries, and a signatory to the Dublin Convention regulating Europe's open border policies. The migration crisis is presenting enormous challenges to Schengen countries. As tens of thousands of migrants continue to arrive across Europe, individual states are taking disparate approaches. While some are increasing their refugee quotas, others are sealing their borders. Deputy Prime Minister Zwiefelhofer leads the ministries of Home Affairs, Justice and Economic Affairs. As Minister of Home Affairs he is in charge of border issues and will discuss how the greater European community can promote unity to address the crisis while minimizing internal clashes. The conversation will examine the future of the Schengen Agreement and the Dublin Convention and explore the role of international agencies such as the UNHCR and foreign countries in support of European partners during this crisis.
