A two day Pan-European ministerial conference to shape coherent and
transparent migration-related polices aimed at improving security,
migrant rights and promoting greater economic development and
prosperity within the region, will take place on 24-25 January in
the Belgian capital, Brussels.

The conference, the first of two to take place in 2006 and part
of a two-year dialogue, is also the broadest initiative of its kind
to promote regional dialogue on migration related issues among EU
member states, EU candidate and acceding countries and neighbouring
countries.

Organized by IOM and the Belgian government currently chair of
the OSCE, and under the auspices of the Austrian EU presidency and
in partnership with several countries, the conference will assemble
foreign and interior ministers or deputies of about 45
participating countries as well as representatives of international
organizations.

Conference themes include coherence in migration policies and
its impact on migration management, security and democratisation as
well as improving the common prosperity of the OSCE region by
tackling migration challenges in a complex world.

“Although the conference will look at many issues, not
least how to handle the security challenges of irregular migration,
it is nevertheless an important opportunity for the EU to tackle
the politically charged issue of legal labour migration. The
changing demographic profile of Europe leaves no other choice. By
finding a common, pragmatic solution, we can lay the grounds for a
secure, prosperous and stable Europe in the future,” said
Brunson McKinley, IOM Director General.

The conference, which will be opened by Belgian Foreign
Minister, Karel De Gucht and IOM Director General, Brunson
McKinley, will be followed by another on 4-5 May 2006 in Vienna.
The Vienna conference, organized by IOM and the Austrian EU
presidency, will lead to the adoption of a declaration expected to
give new operational impetus to the EU external strategy on
migration and security issues.

Journalists who wish to attend the opening and closing sessions
need to be accredited. Registration to be completed by midday
Monday 23 January by email at href="mailto:presse@diplobel.fed.be" target="_blank" title=
"">presse@diplobel.fed.be. Please mention first name, surname,
media organization, mobile telephone number, Belgian or European
Commission press card.

For further press information, please contact

Tamara Keating

IOM Brussels

Ttel: +322 282 4579

Email: "mailto:tkeating@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">tkeating@iom.int

Francois Dumont

Belgian MOFA

Ttel: +322 501 8042

Email: "mailto:presse@diplobel.fed.be" target="_blank" title=
"">presse@diplobel.fed.be

Go to the "http://www.belgium.iom.int/pan-europeandialogue/Index.asp" target=
"_blank" title="">Pan-European Migration Management Conference
Website