“By tapping into the experiences, the energy, the expertise of diaspora communities, we can reverse the so-called ‘brain drain’ that slows progress in so many countries around the world, and instead offer the benefits of ‘brain gain’”

-    Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, 2012 Global Diaspora Forum

Date: September 25th

Time: 09:30 - 12:30

Location: Room ASP3E2, European Parliament, Brussels

Around the world, Diaspora is gaining unprecedented attention from policymakers. 2012 has seen the first Global African Diaspora Summit bring together 64 Heads of State and the second annual Global Diaspora Forum convened by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Seeking to build on this momentum, ISC, together with host Emer Costello MEP, is organising a seminar in Brussels to discuss the impact of Diaspora on EU policy priorities and explore options for making Diaspora a theme of EU policy. The seminar, to be followed by a lunch in the European Parliament by invitation, will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels on September 25th, 2012.

The event will bring together MEPs and officials from EU institutions, embassy representatives, academia and industry and will feature speaker presentations followed by an open panel  discussion. Participants will examine options for Diaspora as a theme of EU policy, with particular emphasis on how this can support job creation and entrepreneurship, scientific research and innovation, education and development cooperation. Strategic steps will be identified for advancing and implementing this policy at EU level, including the potential for an EU pilot project in Diaspora.

Speakers will include:

• Emer Costello, Member of the European Parliament
• Romi Bhatia, Senior Advisor for Diaspora Partnerships ,USAID, Washington D.C.
• Yevgeny Kuznetsov, Senior Economist, World Bank, Washington D.C.
• Baroness Detta O’Cathain, House of Lords, United Kingdom
• Dr Brian Lambkin, Centre for Migration Studies, Northern Ireland
• Professor Lizbeth Goodman, Chair of Creative Innovation Technology, University College Dublin
• Professor Liam Kennedy, Clinton Institute for American Studies, University College Dublin

Full agenda to be added shortly.