History and background

During their Presidency of the EU in July 2004, The Netherlands held a Conference in Rotterdam titled ‘Immigration Services Together in the New Europe’. The Conference was aimed at General Directors of European Immigration Services. During this conference it was concluded that there was added value in face-to-face contact with European counterparts and the General Directors agreed to meet every year. A network was established in order to facilitate practical cooperation. This network was named GDISC: General Directors’ of Immigration Services Conference.

 

This network is ideally placed to address important issues in the field of asylum and immigration. With 33 member Immigration Services (or equivalent) from the 27 EU Member States, the EU Candidate Countries Croatia and Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, GDISC is a key instigator of international projects, focussing on practical cooperation in the field of asylum and migration.

 

Aims/ambition of GDISC

• Being a network in principal for General Directors or Directors General of Immigration Services throughout Europe.
• Initiate, co-ordinate and improve practical co-operation between Immigration Services responsible for the implementation of migration and asylum issues in Europe.
• Provide a flexible response to changing migration patterns in Europe. 
• Be a platform for exchanging experiences, best practices and building up networks of experts. 
• Advising relevant EU institutions with regard to operational asylum and migration matters.

 

Areas of involvement

GDISC focuses its work on the following areas:

• Asylum
• Managed Migration
• Illegal Migration
• Management of Immigration Services
• Migration and Integration

 

Organisational structure

At the Rotterdam Conference in 2004 an organisational structure for GDISC was set up, existing of a Chair, a Steering Group, a Secretariat and a Support Group.

 

Steering Group

The Steering Group discusses the outcomes of the GDISC Conference, takes forward the agenda for other GDISC activities and projects, works on the structural development of GDISC and takes decisions on funding issues.

 

The GDISC Steering Group currently exists of 10 members, representing a good geographic balance:

• Austria
• Czech Republic
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Poland
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

 

The Steering Group meets twice a year when it will review past activities, plan for the future and discuss funding. The Work Plan is prepared by the Steering Group for the Annual Conference, where it can be adopted by all General Directors at the Annual GDISC Conference.

 

Next to this the Steering Group also has the possibility to set up (ad hoc) working groups, that can develop into networks. A good example is the Managed Migration Network. Also the Steering Group will maintain contacts with their regional colleagues and advise them on GDISC developments.

 

General Directors can volunteer to join the Steering Group. This will then be considered by the existing Steering Group. Each 2 years membership of the Steering Group will be refreshed with 2 new members. The EC is invited to the Steering Group as an observer.

 

Secretariat & Chair

The role of the Secretariat is to support the Steering Group, particularly by co-ordinating GDISC projects, assisting in preparing the yearly Work Plan, maintaining contacts with GDISC Members about current developments and prepare funding applications. It supports the Steering Group in aiding relations with the European Commission, is responsible for the PR and promotion of GDISC and maintains the website and contact lists.

 

A decision about who will chair GDISC will be taken every two years at the Annual Conference. Currently The Netherlands are Chair of GDISC and the Secretariat is based in The Hague. The location of the Secretariat will be reviewed at least every five years. The incoming Chair of GDISC has the option to move the Secretariat to their own country.

 

Each year the required capacity for the Secretariat will be determined on the basis of the Work Plan. Countries can deliver support to the Secretariat; this will be reviewed on a yearly basis. The Secretariat is responsible for making best use of its resources.