Here is some information on the migration agency I chose to study. Jeff .
The European Council on Refugees & Exiles (ECRE) is a pan-European network of refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations. ECRE is concerned with the needs of all individuals who seek refuge and protection within Europe. The Secretariat, which services and represents the ECRE membership, is based in London, England. ECRE also maintains an office in Brussels, Belgium and is responsible for activities within the institutions of the European Union.
ECRE Secretariat – 103 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DF, UK.
Email – ecre@ecre.org, Tel. +44-(0)20-7377-7556
ECRE Brussels – 205 Rue Belliard, Box 14, 1040 Brussels, Belgium.
Email – euecre@ecre.be, Tel +32-(0)2-514-5939
Key spokespersons or officers:
Chairman – Nick Hardwick
Vice Chairman – Karl Kopp
General Secretary – Peer Baneke
EU Representative – Irene Donadio
Policy Officer – Areti Siani
Head of Membership and Development – Allan Leas
Key constituency or Audience:
- Organization for Aid to Refugees
- National Council for Refugees
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee
- Swedish Red Cross
- Lithuanian Red Cross
- British Refugee Council
- Swiss Refugee Council (OSAR)
- Italian Refugee Council (CIR)
- Pro Asyl (Germany)
Agency’s main activities:
- Advocating a humane and generous European asylum policy and by promoting the development of a comprehensive and coherent response by the international community to refugee movements.
- Strengthening networking between refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations in Europe.
- developing the institutional capacity of refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations in Europe.
Mission Statement:
“The European Council on Refugees & Exiles (ECRE) is a pan-European network of refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations. ECRE is concerned with the needs of all individuals who seek refuge and protection within Europe.” (ERCE)
Key im/migration issues of concern to this agency:
The treatment of asylum seekers. The rights of those in need of asylum. The rules and regulations surrounding protocols and European countries that agree by them. Sanctions on countries that refuse to work by EU standards. Refugee definition and integration.
Most common informational basis for statements issued:
Press releases on web site. Published Annual Reports
Publications:
Electronic: Available online at www.ecre.com
- Reception & Integration Newsletter
- Legal and Social issues Report
- Numerous Press Release articles
Citation of this agency in a newspaper article:
“The Guardian” Guardian Newspapers Limited, London.
“Last-Minute EU deal reached on asylum: Protests at ‘lowest common denominator’ agreement”, Final Edition, April 30, 2004.
Summary: Britain and EU partners agree on common rules for handling asylum seekers and establish common procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status. the ECRE warned that border guards may be ignorant of new laws that will affect the decision process in removing asylum applicants.
Other issues of interest:
Returning Afghan refugees.
The agency is noticeably pro immigration. In that, it works primarily with non-governmental agencies to ensure that those seeking asylum are protected, treated fairly, and given every opportunity to find asylum and integrate into refuge societies.
Web site: http://www.ecre.org