Uit een e-mail van het Open Society European Policy Institute van Soros blijkt hoe de organisatie de agenda van de Europese Commissie probeert te beïnvloeden.

1. From: Alexandra Wellard <alexandra.wellard@opensocietyfoundations.org> on
behalf of Heather Grabbe <heather.grabbe@opensocietyfoundations.org>
Sent: Tuesday 13 May 2014 13:25
To: MALMSTROM Cecilia (CAB-MALMSTROM)
Cc: ASENIUS Maria (CAB-MALMSTROM); Nadja Groot; Ellen Riotte
Subject: Invitation: workshop on a new migration narrative in Europe – 4 June 2014 in
Oxford
Attachments: Oxford migration seminar draft agenda.pdf
Dear Commissioner Malmström,
We would like to invite you to participate at a workshop on a new migration narrative in Europe, which
will take place in Oxford on Wednesday, 4 June 2014. The workshop is co-organised by the Open Society
European Policy Institute and the International Migration Institute of the Oxford Martin School at the
University of Oxford.
Mainstream parties and intellectual elites have been unable to persuade the public that migration into
and within the European Union can bring social, cultural and economic benefits for their countries; and
that the solution lies not in closing the EU to migration, but rather in improving reception and
integration policies to maximise its benefits and manage the adjustment pressures. Many research
studies have demonstrated the positive impacts of migration on our societies, including the contribution
migrants make to social security systems. However, such studies have done little to shift public debate
on migration, which focuses narrowly on the negative side of the story and encourages hostility toward
migration and migrants. This has been made worse during the economic crisis which has increased the
overall level of anxiety in European societies. Populist parties across Europe have been capitalising on
public discontent over austerity measures and the financial crisis to target migrants as a drain on public
resources and the EU as a source of national economic problems. The EU needs a new narrative on
migration that moves beyond economic arguments to frame the issue in ways that convinces the public
of the opportunities it can bring, while showing how to manage the adjustment costs.
The seminar will bring together 40 practitioners and academics to discuss the ways in which such a
narrative could be constructed and learn lessons from other fields which have seen significant shifts in
public attitudes. It will start at 9.15 am and finish at 6 pm on the 4 June, followed by an informal dinner.
The Open Society European Policy Institute will cover your travel to and accommodation in Oxford.
We would be delighted if you could participate at the workshop, and kindly ask you to confirm your
participation with ellen.riotte@opensocietyfoundations.org, who will also be able to advise you on
travel booking and reimbursement.
Best wishes,
Heather Grabbe
Director of the Open Society European Policy Institute
Oliver Bakewell and Hein de Haas
Co-Directors of the International Migration Institute
Ref. Ares(2014)1555643 - 15/05/2014