[fse-esf] migration report and call

[Nikolaos Nikisianis]

Migration Network Report

Most of discussion was oriented to the enlargement of the network,  
especially with groups and networks that have already taken part in  
previous ESFs.
We made a short presentation about the process until know. Migration  
Network has been formed preparing the last ESF (Athens, 2006). We had  
meetings in all EPAs before Athens, with the participation of about  
totally 30 organizations and networks from all around Europe. We have  
completed successfully the merging process for our theme, having  
finally 12 inclusive seminars coming from 40 proposals. During ESF we  
also have organized a thematic space, an action against a detention  
camp and the assembly of the network, in which we produced a common  
declaration, calling for the 3rd European-wide day of action. This  
call has been included to Social Movements Assembly Declaration. After  
all this process we have better communication and cooperation between  
our movements, although we haven’t since then proceed in ESF’s network  
process.
In order to do that, we decided to address a new appeal, based on  
Athens declaration, to all groups and networks that have participated  
(our could participate) in Migration Network, calling them to take  
part in Networks meetings and in the preparation of nest ESF. This  
appeal will be distributed through ESF site and openesf, email lists  
of ESF and other networks, international meetings (like Lisboa on  
December) and contacts from previous meetings. We will also create a  
space for this network on ESF site (posting reports and calls from  
previous process) and take advantage of openesf.
With all the groups that will correspondent we will prepare the next  
meeting of the network, during the next EPA in Berlin, where we will  
discuss about the agenda of next ESF and our common priorities for  
that and we will exam the possibility of having common action or  
preparing common campaigns even before Malmo’s ESF.
Preparing the general structure of ESF 2008 program, we all have  
agreed in the importance of migration theme, especially after the new  
European process referring the harmonization of European policies  
against migration.
Finally, because of the fact that many participants were coming from  
Turkey and Greece, we discussed about planned action in the  
border-line between Greece and Turkey in the next months.

Istanbul EPA
31-11-2007
Contact person: Nikos Nikisianis, Antiracist Initiative, Thessaloniki,  
Greece nnikisia at bio.auth.gr

Appeal for the Migration Network

In the 4th ESF (Athens 2006) more than 40 migrant’s and antiracists  
groups and networks from al around Europe have taken part in Migration  
Network. Through all the preparation process, we have agreed to common  
agenda and common priorities. We all have appealed for a 3rd  
European-wide day of action struggling for "a European unconditional  
legalization and equal rights to all migrants; for the closure of all  
detention centers in Europe, for the stop to externalization, for the  
stop to deportations; against the precariousness and for the  
uncoupling of the link between resident permit and the labor contact,  
for a residence citizenship" (Declaration of Social Movements  
Assembly, Athens 2006).
We all consider that this European-wide cooperation has widened our  
experience and our point of view and has strengthened the visibility  
of our struggles against dominant European border and migration  
policies. New conditions, like the implementation of Dublin Treaty and  
generally the harmonization of European policies against asylum right,  
force us to continue and enlarge this process.
We call migrants and antiracist groups, organizations and networks to  
join Migration Network. Until the next EPA, in Berlin 22-24 February  
2008, we will start the consultation about our priorities for the  
agenda of next ESF in Malmo 2008 and also about common actions and  
campaigns.

Istanbul EPA
31-11-2007