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The Third Annual forum about emigration and development, titled “Integration of immigration policies and development strategies for all” will take place in Athens from November 2 to 5.

The meetings are spread into four days. The meeting of nongovernmental organizations will take place during the first two days and during the second will be the high level meeting of ministers, present at which will be Greek PM Georgios Papandreou.

Emigration and development roads are parallel and if they are thought through well and used in the right way, they can in favor to all, said Greek deputy minister of internal affairs Theodora Tsakri at a press conference today. The minister noted that the long term goal is for emigration to happen only when people want it and not to be forced by circumstances to leave their countries and families. In connection to this Mrs. Tsakri expressed his condolences to the families of the tragically passed away refugees near to Lesbos Island few days ago.

During the last twenty years Greece became a country, which annually accepts tens of thousands of immigrants, who work in the country. Mrs. Tsakri mentioned that based on latest research the number of emigrants with residence permits is about 630 000 and the number of those living and working in Greece without legal documents is 200 000. Based on latest data during the last few years immigrants in the country have contributed to increasing local income with 4% of the GDP.

This year more than 130 countries with over 300 representatives will participate in the International Forum. Greece is the third country in a row to host the International forum about emigration and development and the organization of the forum is undertaken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and “Onassis” Foundation. The meeting will take place between November 2 and 5 and two days will be dedicated to discussions regarding civil society and the other two to meetings of nongovernmental organizations.

The International forum reflects the increasing interest of many governments about the complex connection between migration and development. Migration can influence development and vice versa and this influence can be both positive and negative. In today’s world of increasing transnational mobility we need new type of politics and partnerships, which will ensure that migration and development will help emigrants, their families and the countries they emigrate to.

The idea of organizing this forum for the first time came from UN chief secretary Kofi Annan in September 2006 during a Common meeting of the UN. Over 140 county member representatives discussed the problems about migration processes influence over development and they reached the conclusion that if they approach the migration topic carefully, they can help the development and if they have the right development strategies by taking into consideration migration, they can ensure that people will start emigrating when they want and not when they have to.

Each year the International emigration and development forum is organized in a different country – the first meeting took place in Belgium in 2007 and the members discussed the influence of migration over the social and economic development and political coherence. During the second meeting in Manila in October 2008 the main topic of discussion was protection and support of emigrants and human rights.