V4 + Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia seminar on the provision
of social benefits and social services to Ukrainian refugees
and the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labour market
Concept of the seminar
In the context of Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, "Support for
Ukraine" is one of the basic priorities of the Czech V4 Presidency.
The Presidency addresses the overall impact of Russia's aggression on the country,
the wider region and European security as a whole and this pillar of the V4 PRES
programme focuses in particular on promoting dialogue and V4 cooperation to support
Ukraine and its citizens as much as possible at a number of levels and in a number of
sectors. This includes reception of Ukrainians fleeing the war, including their education
or healthcare, assistance to particularly vulnerable persons, judicial assistance,
humanitarian aid and post-war reconstruction in Ukraine.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine has triggered the arrival of several million
Ukrainians fleeing the war, mostly women and children. Most of them have found
refuge in the V4 countries where they are granted temporary protection under Council
Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary
protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures
to ensure a balance between Member States' efforts in receiving such persons
and the consequences thereof. This temporary protection has been extended until
March 2025 by a recent EU Council decision.
In line with this priority of the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group,
the planned seminar aims to provide a platform for the exchange of experiences
and sharing of best practices. Thanks to their unique position, the V4 countries can
share experiences in terms of providing basic social needs, healthcare and integration
into employment of these persons, their adaptation into society and attention to the
needs of particularly vulnerable persons. Sharing this experience is useful not only for
the members of the Visegrad Group, but also for the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia) as they are also affected by the challenges related to the arrival of Ukrainian
refugees. In particular, the meeting will focus on exchanging experiences
in the provision of social benefits and social services, including assistance with
accommodation and childcare services, as well as measures to integrate Ukrainians
with temporary protection into the labour market. The aim is to contribute to making
both temporary protection and long-term integration of refugees from Ukraine into our
societies as effective and successful as possible.
Date
The seminar will take place from 30 November to 1 December 2023 at the Ministry
of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic (Prague, Na Poříčnm právu 1).
Language of the meeting
English
Participants
2 participants at the level of Department Director/Head of Unit (or equivalent
in the respective countries) are invited from each V4 and Baltic States country.
Registration
Participants are invited to register by 15 November 2023 at conference-
[email protected].
Services
Accommodation in nearby hotels will be provided by the organizer. Coffee and light
refreshments during the meeting will be provided. All attendees are invited to dinner
on 30 November 2023 and lunch on 1 December 2023.
Format of the event
Participants will hold 3 roundtable discussions on each topic (approximately 5 minutes
for each country presentation is expected), followed by a discussion (Q & A).
Tentative programme
Day One - 30 November 2023
13:30 - 14:00 Opening remarks by Ms. Kateřina Štěpánková, Director General
of the Employment Section
14:00 - 15.30 Round Table 1 - Provision of social benefits
15:30 - 16:00 Break
16:30 - 18:00 Round Table 2 - Provision of Social Services
19:00 - 21:00 Dinner
Day Two - 1 December 2023
9:30 - 11:00 Round Table 3 - Measures for labour market integration
11:00 - 11:30 Closing remarks by Ms. Martina Štěpánková, Director General
of the European Funds and International Cooperation Section
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
Saatja: Embassy Tallinn <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 31.10.2023 12:45
Adressaat: <"SM Info">; <"Gerli Baida">; <"Laura Kurs">
Koopia: <
[email protected]>
Teema: Czech Embassy - NV no. 1251-1-2023-MZV-TALL - invitation to the V4
+ Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia seminar
Dear Sir/Madam,attached please find the note verbale no. 1251-1/2023-
MZV/TALL regarding invitation to the V4 + Estonia, Lithuania and
Latvia seminar.(See attached file: NV 1251-1-2023-MZV-TALL invitation to
the V4+EE, LT, LV seminar.pdf)(See attached file: Invitation to V4 CZ
PRES seminar_cz.pdf)(See attached file: Invitation to V4 seminar - EN
courtesy translation.pdf)(See attached file: Concept Note CZ PRES V4
+ EE -LT- LV 30. 11.-1. 12. 2023.pdf)Kind regards,Magda
Križková Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tallinn / Tšehhi
Vabariigi Suursaatkond Tallinnas / Velvyslanectví ÈR v
Tallinnu Lahe 4, 10150 Tallinn, Estonia Tel: (372) 627 44
00/627 44 01
[email protected] ,
Courtesy translation
Your Excellency,
The Czech Republic holds the Presidency of the Visegrad Group from July 2023
to June 2024. Our Presidency is taking place at a time deeply affected by Russia's
ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its geopolitical and demographic
consequences. These impacts include a large number of war refugees on the territory
of the Visegrad Group countries.
The increased movement of refugees has created a number of challenges
for the Visegrad Group member countries. In the social field, our welfare systems
and labour markets in particular have faced major challenges, and each country is
dealing with these challenges in its own way. Since support for Ukraine and its citizens
is one of the pillars of the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group, we
have decided to support exchange of information between the V4 Member States
to help the successful integration of war refugees into our societies. Lithuania, Latvia
and Estonia, which in many respects face the same challenges as the Visegrad Group
countries, are also included in this initiative.
It is therefore a great honour for me to invite representatives of your Ministry
to a roundtable on best practices in the field of integration of Ukrainian refugees into
the labour market and in the field of payment of social benefits and provision of social
services to these refugees. The roundtable will take place on 30 November
and 1 December 2023 in Prague. More detailed organizational information
and a preliminary agenda are attached to this letter. The meeting will be held in English
without interpretation.
I would appreciate if you could nominate two representatives of your country
at the senior expert level (Director of Department, Head of Unit or equivalent) by
15 November 2023 to
[email protected]. Kindly note that the Czech
side will only cover accommodation for two persons per participating country,
for the night from 30 November to 1 December. For capacity reasons, any request for
participation of more than two persons will be considered individually.
In case the issues discussed at the seminar fall under the competence of other
ministries in your country, please coordinate with them and send one joint nomination.
Yours sincerely,
Marian Jurečka
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic