LEFT BEHIND: SEMINAR IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

“Left Behind – The impact of economic migration on children left behind and their families” which takes place on 2 March 2011 in the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference will address the issue of children left behind in the country of origin when parents move to another European country in search of employment. This phenomenon is still underestimated and often unknown even if it concerns approximately half million children in the EU.

The event will gather experts from across Europe to analyse the situation of transnational families in different European countries. It will address the causes and consequences of the migration, in particular the effects on children and their families both in the country of origin where the children are left behind, and in the parents’ country of destination. The expert inputs will have a multi-dimension approach and combine policy analysis with relevant psychological and sociological research.

The event will be hosted by Vice President of the European Parliament, MEP Roberta Angelilli and by MEP Rovana Plumb, member of the Committee Employment and Social Affairs. It will involve representatives of national and local authorities from EU Member States, representatives of national and European NGOs, and academics.

During the seminar the Network ‘ChildrenLeftBehind.eu’ will be launched and presented to the European institutions and organisations.