” “On 8th and 9th September, the Centre de conférences internationales Kléber in Paris will host the EU Ministerial Conference, open to civilians, about "Building a Europe of asylum". The meeting, which is promoted by the presidency of the European Council, "aims at laying the foundations for opening the second stage of the common European asylum system". The conference, "which is part of the programme outlined at The Hague in 2004 and the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, will also take inspiration from the action plan submitted by the EU Commission on June 17th 2008". The agenda includes speeches by ministers and experts, followed by three workshops, "attended by delegates of the member states and NGOs, experts and international organisations". The focus will be on three major issues: practical cooperation on asylum (including the future "European support office"); how to handle asylum applications within the EU and the development of cooperation with the third countries; the next common European asylum system. The conference will end tomorrow with a meeting of the EU ministers concerned.” “
