Technical Seminar - Dialogue Platforms

IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT ATTENDANCE AT THIS EVENT IS BY INVITATION ONLY

The technical seminar on dialogue platforms is the fourth seminar in the third series of technical seminars on immigration and integration, which will lead to the third edition of the Handbook on Integration for Policy-makers and Practitioners, due in 2009 (click here for the first edition and here for the second edition).. It takes place in Dublin on 15 and 16 May 2008, hosted by the Irish Ministry of Integration. MPG acts as an independent consultant to the European Commission for both the organisation of the technical seminars and the preparation of the third edition of the Handbook.

The Dublin seminar will explore six enabling factors that help make dialogue platforms a successful means to pursue well-defined, long-term integration objectives. It will also consider the facilitator roles that can be played by public authorities, civil society organisations, and municipalities.

For the purpose of this seminar, a dialogue platform can be defined as an open space for exchange promoting mutual understanding among participants from different ethnic, cultural, religious or linguistic backgrounds. Successful dialogue platforms can build understanding, trust, and cooperation within the integration process at the local, regional, national and international level. It can improve the quality of public debates and ultimately decision-making.