The EESC wishes to be the home of organised civil society and we are therefore happy to welcome you today and tomorrow to give practical expression to this concept, especially as we will be discussing an issue which has always been at the centre of our concerns and work: we firmly believe that immigration is one of the most important social and economic issues of our time. Men and women from far-off lands are forced to leave their homes in search of better, acceptable standards of living for themselves and their families. Others come to Europe in search of a democratic society and institutions and the rule of law.

Today the Commission launched two new tools for integration of third country nationals living in the European Union: The European Integration Forum, organised in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee, where EU institutions, stakeholders and civil society organisations will exchange views on integration issues. Furthermore, the European Web Site on Integration, which will soon become 'Integration at your fingertips' – providing high-quality content from across Europe and building an online community of integration practitioners.

As already stated in the Hague Programme, the Commission's Communication 'A Common Agenda for Integration: Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in the European Union' of September 2005 (COM (2005) 389) reaffirmed that a comprehensive approach, involving stakeholders at all levels, is essential for the success of integration policies. It further stated that the Commission would bring together a range of stakeholders active in the area of integration at EU level, setting up European Integration Forum and a Web Site on Integration.

The inaugural meeting of the European Integration Forum took place on 20-21 April 2009. More than fifty civil society organisations attended alongside representatives of the European Commission, of the European Economic and Social Committee, of the Committee of the Regions, of the Fundamental Rights Agency, of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Workin

Programme of the 1st meeting - 20 and 21 April 2009 c/o European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels