Barcelona: European seminar analyzes the situation of immigrants and refugees

On Saturday, February 1, the work of the European seminar organized by Fidestra in Barcelona continued. This meeting made it possible to address general issues in Europe. He also stopped to analyze the serious crises that Ukraine and Venezuela are going through.

The relationship between social dialogue and new European workers arriving from abroad was discussed. The following people participated: Fernando Moura e Silva (Fidestra, Portugal), Kristina Noreikiene (LDF, Lithuania), Vittorino Rodaro (Trentini nel Mondo-UNAIE, Italy), Mara Erdelj (Bofos, Serbia), Jose Miranda Coelho (Fidestra, Portugal) and Andreia Garcias (Fidestra Junior).

About Ibero-American immigration in Catalonia, Susana Clerici, an expert immigration lawyer from Argentina, pointed out the difficulty of defining when a person is integrated into society; Javier García Bonomi, from Fedelatina (Federation of Latin American Entities of Catalonia), spoke about the multiple identities that each of us can have; the Venezuelan Marcela Maspero, explained the situation of the refugees; and Olinda Teixeira (Fidestra).

The project of the Puente Association - Arab Cultural Center was also presented, for the integration of immigrants in Barcelona, ​​in collaboration with the UAO.

The Belgian Patrick Pennickx, secretary general of the European Seniors Union (ESU, Brussels) spoke about the issue of the aging of the European population. Carmen Quintanilla (AFAMMER, Spain), vice president of ESU, participated in the same session: she focused on the issue of women in the rural environment in our countries. She stressed that immigration is key to the economy. Other participants in the seminar were Franciele Corti, Isaias Afonso, Cristina Barbosa, Maria de Céu Moleiro and Ricardo Simões.

In summary, this seminar served to address the philosophical and moral issues of immigration; the research that are underway; the situation of the European Union and its countries; and the reality of two countries that suffer serious refugee crises: Ukraine and Venezuela.

From January 30 to February 2, the European seminar on immigration and work took place in Barcelona. It brought together experts from fifteen countries. It was organized by the Portuguese association Fidestra, with the support of EZA, the European Commission, the IPCM and the UAO CEU. The participants visited the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.