1. London’s response to the new migration
In the framework of the European project « One-stop mobility shops »
Hammersmith & Fulham Town Hall
King Street, London W6 9JU
23 January 2009
The two recent enlargements of the European Union, in 2004 and 2007, have caused
many debates on migration issues. Many of them focussing on the risks and benefits of
economic migration. Receiving countries face many challenges and have in response
introduced solutions aimed at dealing with the inflow of people arriving to look for
jobs. At the conference, London will serve as an example of a capital city approaching
problems arising from the recent expansion of the European Union.
The conference will focus on the complex phenomenon of economic migration. The
fact that not all of the immigrants from the European Union member states share
same status adds to the complexity of the matter and will be stressed. Migrants from
all of the countries that joined European Union in 2004 can work in the UK without any
special requirements, such as work permit. However, they need to register with the
Home Office under the Accession State Worker Registration Scheme. Bulgarian and
Romanian nationals, on the other hand, are required to provide a work permit along

2. with fulfilling other special requirements, which often creates serious obstacles and
prevents migrants from succeeding in the labour market.
There are many immigrants for whom the migration experience is a successful one,
not only do they succeed on an individual level but make significant contributions to
the economies of receiving countries as well. However, there are also people who fail.
Lack of adequate support and knowledge about workers’ rights, exploitative
employers and language barrier often lead to failure. Difficulties with getting or
keeping a job may cause alcohol and drug addiction, loss of housing and ultimately
social exclusion.
Different responses from the European Union, national and local governments, and
non-profit organisations to the new migration waves will be covered in both plenary
sessions and workshops. Responses from local authorities and councils, and the
importance of the current set-up where councils have no recourse to public funds
other than primary services, will also be discussed. We believe the topic is of great
importance, particularly in the context of the current economic crisis.
The aim of this conference is to influence European Union as well as senior officials
from national and local governments, in order to improve the situation of migrants
from new accession countries. We aim to bring together service providers, policy
makers and practitioners working in migration or migration–related fields to share
knowledge and good practice, exchange ideas and discuss their research findings.
Plenary sessions accompanied by four different workshops will enable a thorough
examination of the topic.

3. PROGRAMME
9h00 – 9h15 Welcome coffee and registrations
NEW MIGRATION IN LONDON
MIGRATION AFTER 2004 – CONSEQUENCES FOR LONDON
Chairman: Welcome and opening remarks – James Reilly, Director of Community
Services, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Agent provocateur: Petr Matousek, Vice-Consul, Embassy of the Czech Republic in London
9h15 – 9h30 Tony Venables, Director, European Citizen Action Service. Introduction
of the theme of the seminar: presentation of the “One-stop mobility
shop” project
9h30 – 10h00 Jean Lambert, Member of the European Parliament for London -
European context of mobility
10h00 – 10h15 Professor Ian Gordon, Professor of Human Geography, London School of
Economics. Picture of the new migration in London - comparisons with
previous migration waves
10h15 – 10h30 Dr Dirk Gebhardt, Programme Officer, Migration and Integration,
EUROCITIES - New migration and policy responses in [other] European
cities
10h30 – 10h45 Q&A
10h45 – 11h05 COFFEE BREAK
IT IS LARGELY A SUCCESS STORY…BUT THERE ARE ALSO THE LOSERS
Agent provocateur James Morris, Trustee, Barka UK; Alcohol Policy Consultant, Alcohol
Policy UK
11h05 – 11h20 Robert Rusiecki, 1st Counsellor, Head of Consular Section at the
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London: Trends and implications of
the new economic migration to the UK – Polish example

4. 11h20 – 12h00 Greg Smith, Councillor for Town Ward & Cabinet Member for Crime &
Anti – Social Behaviour, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham -
Hammersmith and Fulham as a destination point for new migrants –
benefits and challenges
12h00 -12h15 Abid Rafiq, Local Government Finance Manager, London Councils – ONS
population data and the implications for local government funding
12h15 – 12h45 Dr Charles Tannock, Member of the European Parliament for London
12h45– 13h00 Q&A
13h00 – 13h45 Lunch provided by organisers
13h45 - 14h45 WORKSHOPS
A. ROLE OF CHARITIES IN SUPPORTING VULNERABLE MIGRANTS
MODERATOR John Downie, Chairman of Barka UK, organization which
provides severely excluded European accessional migrants
in the UK with the opportunity for reconnection and social
and economic reintegration
PRESENTATION 1: Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Broadway,
homelessness charity supporting single homeless people
across London
PRESENTATION 2: Helen Mathie, Policy Projects Officer, Homeless Link,
national membership organization for frontline
homelessness agencies in England
B. NEW MIGRANTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
MODERATOR David Page, Assistant Director, Safer Communities
Division, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

5. PRESENTATION 1: Nick Hammond, Equality and Diversity Officer, London
Probation
C. HOW LOCAL AUTHORIES ADAPT TO MIGRATION CHALLENGE IN THE CONTEXT OF
COMMUNITY COHESION, HOUSING, SCHOOLING & HEALTH SERVICES
MODERATOR Jonathan Weaver, Head of Housing Advice and
Assessment, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
PRESENTATION 1: James Reilly, Director of Community Services, London
Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
PRESENTATION 2: Dr Michał P. Garapich, CRONEM, Centre for Research on
Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism
D. IMPACT OF THE NEW MIGRATION ON THE UK LABOUR MARKET
MODERATOR Richard Vernon, Head of Community Safety Unit, London
Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
PRESENTATION 1: Dr Greg Thomson, National Development Manager for
Migrant Workers, UNISON
PRESENTATION 2 : Andrzej Garus, Project Manager, Primus Personnel
14h45 – 15h15 COFFEE BREAK
15h15 – 15h45 REPORT BACK TO PLENARY
15h45 CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSING REMARKS

6. Partners are grateful to the European Commission, DG Employment,
Social Affairs and Equal opportunities
for its financial support
For more information on the project please visit:
www.barkauk.org
For further information contact
Project Coordinator
Joanna Trautsolt
tel.: (+44) 797 5654 797
e-mail: barka.uk@gmail.com