Migration conference 2017: speakers

HE Dagfinn Sørli

The ambassador of Norway

Christer Haglund

Nordic Council of Ministers´office in Estonia

Andres Anvelt

Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Estonia 

Marju Lauristin

Member of the European Parliament, Professor of Tartu University 

The presentation is focused on how to conceptualize nation states at the age of migration: migration and integration of new arrivals.

Anders Danielsson

Secretary General, Swedish Red Cross

The presentation focuses on the Swedish experience on helping 136 000 refugees in six months.

Klára Fóti

Research Manager, Eurofound

The presentation takes a look at labour market integration of refugees and asylum seekers and the different approaches to it in Europe after the crisis. Due to the high inflow in 2015 and 2016, labor market integration of refugees has become even more challenging than before. The average duration of the asylum procedure increased. In order to ease the effects of the delays in obtaining a decision, many measures have been introduced, and/or in some cases the procedure has been accelerated for specific groups of asylum seekers. In many countries, the granting of asylum has become temporary, weakening asylum seekers’ position in the labor market.

Eero Janson 

Director, Estonian Refugee Council

The first refugee families in the EU quota system arrived to Estonia exactly one year ago, in March 2016. This presentation will look at the successes and the still-existing gaps in the integration and support system provided to newly arrived refugees, taking a closer look at labour market access, educational system, and secondary movement, among other things.

Catrine Bangum 

Senior adviser, Nordic Council of Ministers

The presentation will tell about the different elements in the Program of integration of newly arrived immigrants initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Tuomas Martikainen 

Director, Migration Institute of Finland

In 2015, about 32,500 asylum seekers arrived to Finland. The number was significantly higher than in previous years, created much controversy, and led to several legislative changes. The presentation looks at how the asylum seekers’ applications have proceeded as well as other information that we do know about the asylum seekers. The presentation is based on data provided by Finnish authorities as well as collected by the Urbanisation, Mobilities and Immigration research project.

Maarja Saar 

PhD student, Sodertorn University, project Transwel  

Several regulations are directed to support EU free movement, however, on the practical level, there are multiple problems with the portability of welfare benefits in EU. The presentation takes interest in mobility between Sweden and Estonia and the problems for Estonian migrants in Sweden. 

Triin Vihalemm

Professor, University of Tartu

Alongside political, economic and cultural factors, media has a significant impact on migration and integration processes. People learn about the destinations (for the first time) via media, especially the Internet, and create new relationships. Social media has made communication between migrants and those who stayed back home cheaper and more diverse than ever before, which reduces the fear of losing close relationships. The development of mass media and communication networks has also changed the way researchers understand integration in the target society.

Karina Horsti

University of Jyväskylä, Academy of Finland fellow

Transformations in the mediascape have played a role in shaping public debate on immigration. Despite connecting people and society, new media technology also fragments and polarises communication. Social media has shaped the response to the recent arrival of asylum seekers: they have facilitated the formation of both the anti-immigration movement and the hospitality movement.

Marti Aavik 

Opinion editor, daily newspaper Postimees 

The presentation takes a look at the public perception of migration in Estonian media. 

Marta Bivand Erdal 

Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo

International migration and diversity have particular implications for the nation and the state. Whilst related, these should not be conflated. The state can only resolve the implications of recent migration, if broader questions of diversity management and nation building, are carefully attended too, with sensitivity both to existing diversity, and to European-wide anxieties among ordinary citizens over the pace of societal change, among other associated with international migration.

Allan Puur 

Professor, Tallinn University 

The new population projection charts demographic future of Estonia until the end of the 21st century. Results illuminate contrasting long-range outcomes in terms population number, age structure and ethnic composition arising from various scenarios of international migration and fertility, the two most dynamic components of contemporary population change. The presentation identifies paths which could break the decline, bringing stabilisation or moderate recovery from the middle of the century.

Tiit Tammaru 

Professor, University of Tartu 

Raul Eamets and Tiit Tammaru have participated in the compilation process of Estonian Human Development Report that is dedicated to Estonia in the era of migration – which is also the starting point to the migration conference 2017. Together, they give a presentation focusing on Estonia and the era of migration. 

Raul Eamets 

Professor, University of Tartu 

Raul Eamets and Tiit Tammaru have participated in the compilation process of Estonian Human Development Report that is dedicated to Estonia in the era of migration – which is also the starting point to the migration conference 2017. Together, they give a presentation focusing on Estonia and the era of migration.