Migration and Migrants: Challenges and Responses
Migration is one of the most significant global phenomena of our time, shaped by economic opportunity, social change, conflict, and environmental factors. Throughout history, people have moved across regions and continents in search of new beginnings, reshaping societies in ways that continue to influence culture, politics, and local economies. In Europe, migration has long contributed to demographic shifts and cultural exchange. While earlier movements were often driven by labour needs or colonial expansion, recent decades have seen migration increasingly influenced by global inequalities and regional instability.
These movements have transformed local communities, creating more diverse societies and shaping social identities. Migration can bring innovation, cultural richness, and new social connections, but it also raises questions about matters like inclusion and equity. In Europe today, where mobility is both a reality and a topic of debate, understanding migration involves balancing humanitarian responsibility with sustainable development and social cohesion.
It is within this context that the conference “Migration and Migrants: Challenges and Responses” will take place on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, starting at 09:30 AM in the City Council chamber of Rijeka City Hall. The event is organised by Udruga Slobodna Država Rijeka and the Coppieters Foundation, with the support of Primorje–Gorski Kotar County (Primorsko-goranska županija) and the Società di Studi Fiumani. The conference aims to analyse migration in Europe from historical, geopolitical, and contemporary perspectives, bringing together historians, political analysts, experts, and civil society representatives. Special emphasis will be placed on demographic changes, the position of minorities, migration flows, and historical examples of emigration from Rijeka, Istria, and Dalmatia. By fostering multidisciplinary discussion, it seeks to offer concrete analyses and policy recommendations relevant to European public policy. Simultaneous interpretation in Croatian, English, and Italian will be provided, and the event will be streamed live on YouTube and via Zoom.
Program
11 November
Welcome Words
Opening remarks and brief overview of the conference objectives.
- Antonia Luciani, President, Coppieters Foundation (online)
Morning Session
The morning session will explore migration, identity, and social change in Europe.
Speakers:
- Damir Grubiša, Politologist and former Croatian Ambassador to Italy – Migrations in the 21st Century: A Challenge to Post-colonial Europe
- Milan Rakovac, Writer, journalist and founder of the Forum Tomizza – Emigrants, Immigrants, Migrants
- Eszter Tamasko, Lector, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka – Between the Lines: The Croatian–Rác Identity in the Letters of Emigrants to America from Dusnok, Hungary
- Tado Jurić, Associate Professor of Demography and Migration Studies at the Catholic University of Croatia – Two Faces of Migration and Integration in Croatia: Ukrainian Refugees and Migrants – Shaping Demography, the Labour Market and Social Cohesion
- Siniša Tatalović, Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb – Demographic Indicators of National Minorities in Croatia: A Case Study of the Serbian Community
- Marino Micich, Director of the Archivio Museo Storico di Fiume and Secretary‑General of the Società di Studi Fiumani – A People in Exile: The Origins of Associations of Istrian, Fiuman and Dalmatian Exiles (1943–1949)
- Giovanni Stelli, Researcher, Istituto Regionale di Ricerca e Sperimentazione Educativa dell’Umbria; Professor of General Pedagogy, University of Basilicata- The Society of Fiume Studies from 1923 to its Re-founding in Rome after the Exodus: Attilio Depoli, Enrico Burich, Giorgio Radetti, Salvatore Samani
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session
The afternoon session will address migration, minority rights, and historical and contemporary challenges.
Speakers:
- Ljubinka Toševa Karpowicz, Researcher Specializing in the History of Rijeka – Analysis of the Minority Rights International Report on the Palestinian Question (1998–Today)
- Ivan Jeličić, Faculty Member, Department of Italian Language and Literature, University of Rijeka – Remarks on the Immediate Postwar Emigration from Liburnia and Rijeka/Fiume
- Róbert Gönczi, Analyst, Migration Research Institute – Instrumentalised Migration: The Benghazi–Minsk Air Corridor and Hybrid Threats to the EU
- Agnieszka Rudkowska, Professor of Polish Language and Culture, University of Rijeka – Historical Factors Shaping Attitudes toward Migrants in Poland in the Context of the Contemporary Migration Wave
- Ahmed Burić, Poet, Translator and Journalist – Migrants: Who Is Outside, and Who Inside the Wire?
- John Peter Kraljić, Historian and Author specialising in Croatian‑American history; Member of the Croatian Academy of America – Observations on the Immigration Experience in the United States during the Homeland War (1991–1995)
Artistic and Musical Program
Featuring:
- Irena Urbič from Koper, organizer of the cross-border Forum Tomizza meetings, who will introduce the program and present the Forum’s activities
- Milan Rakovac, poet and writer
- Ahmed Burić, poet, writer, and musician
Dinner
. . .
Practicalities:
Date & time:
Tuesday, 11 November 2025 at 10:00
Venue:
City Council chamber of Rijeka City Hall, Korzo 16, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
Language:
The event will be conducted in English. Interpretation in Croatian and Italian will be provided.
Contact:
Media inquiries can be adressed to info@ideasforeurope.eu
. . .
This event is a joint initiative between Udruga Slobodna Država Rijeka and Coppieters Foundation.
. . .
This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor for the opinions of the speakers.
. . .
Thank you for following our activities over the past few years. We hope our updates have been useful to you. We would like to keep informing you about upcoming events, new publications, summer schools, and job vacancies. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear from us in your inbox.