President Georges Dassis at the 30th anniversary of Catalonia CITE (Information Centre for Foreign Workers)

Georges Dassis, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), has attended the 30th anniversary of the Catalonia Information Center for Foreign Workers (CITE) in Barcelona, this Friday, 1 July.

The CITE is a network of centers promoted by the CCOO union (Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras) which provides, free of charge, support to foreigners as regards assistance and guidance on immigration law: work permits, residence, family reunification, nationality, etc., as an instrument to promote their social and labour integration and fight against discrimination.

During this visit, the President participated in a round table with Carles Campuzano, Catalan deputy in the Spanish parliament and president of the NGO "ACSAR" (asylum and refugees) on the subject "Could a European Migration Policy guarantee equality and an inclusive citizenship?"

Mr. Dassis mentioned that that the EESC was the first EU body that dealt with the refugee crisis, launching 12 fact-finding missions, in December 2015 to eleven Member-States and Turkey, in order to identify needs and problems as well as best practices in handling the refugee crisis while he also referred to the need for a refugees' integration based on solidarity and honouring the history of civilisation of the European Union. In conclusion, the President stressed the Committee's pioneering role, for example with regards to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the financial transaction tax which were initiated by it.

This subject and others related to migration are on the top of the priorities of EESC's work, in a time where European Union is being challenged by the refugees' crisis and the growing tensions between citizens and migrants all across Europe.

 

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