RESOLUTION 1035 (1994)1 on Europeans living abroad
1.A large number of persons of European origin, comprising second and third generation
migrants, are living outside their countries of origin. Most of them have integrated
politically, socio-economically and culturally into the host countries.
2.However, many European migrants seem to be interested in maintaining links with their
country of origin in order to preserve their cultural identity.
3.Relations with these people, who for the most part have been granted the citizenship
of their new country, although some hold dual citizenship, are approached very differently
by the member states, which attach varying degrees of priority - in political, cultural,
economic and social terms - to such relations.
4.However, Europeans living abroad - as is the case with most immigrant communities -
are still confronted with numerous problems such as the absence of a census, limited
political and social rights, lack of information concerning the country of origin, and
difficulties in returning and resettling as well as in recovering former citizenship.
5.By cultivating relations with these people both within Europe and overseas, the
countries of origin have the opportunity not only to build bridges between different
nations and cultures and to foster understanding, but also to ensure that such relations
are not abused for nationalist ends or to spread political, religious or ethnic conflict
from the home countries to the receiving countries.
6.The Assembly therefore invites the governments of member states:
i.to update the census of their citizens living abroad;
ii.to draw up a programme of legislative proposals, political action and administrative
measures to improve relations with their communities living abroad;
iii.to facilitate the re-integration into their country of origin of those migrants
wishing to return;
iv.to take the necessary steps to improve their consular networks, in case they no
longer meet the requirements of their citizens abroad, and improve the accessibility of
information for their citizens abroad on developments in the economic, social and cultural
fields in their countries of origin as well as legislative and other measures of direct
importance to these citizens;
v.to support the activities of associations and non-governmental organisations involved
with European migrants living outside their countries of origin;
vi.to sign and ratify, in so far as they have not yet done so, the Convention on the
Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level.
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1. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the
Assembly, on 18 May 1994.
See Doc. 7078, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography,
Rapporteur: Mr Böhm.
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