133rd IPU Assembly
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am addressing you in my capacity as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a parliamentary body of a Europe-wide International Organisation bringing together 47 member states and 820 million inhabitants. Therefore, today, I would like to share with you a Pan-European vision of the ways to address the migration phenomenon as well as give you some examples of actions we have taken on this front.
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Distinguished colleagues,
Migration has become a global phenomenon that must be addressed within the framework of a global and strategic approach.
As a global player, Europe must lead and shoulder its responsibilities in managing the current refugee crisis and the migration phenomenon. Migration is not a problem but a human reality, as the Director General of IOM, Mr William Lacy Swing, pointed out this morning.
Ladies and gentlemen,
"Too late and too little" – this is what I would say about our response to the refugee drama up till now.
We have failed to anticipate the problem and now that we are overwhelmed by its consequences and implications, we are bargaining as carpet sellers about quotas and figures.
Colleagues, it is not about carpets, we are talking about human lives and about human dignity.
Providing shelter and support to those who flee conflict and extreme poverty is not only our moral duty. It is also our international obligation. We have to show leadership and shoulder our responsibilities.
As politicians and policy-makers we have to follow the appeal that was formulated this morning. We must play the leading role. Let me present to you a blueprint of 8 priorities for parliamentarians:
- Ring the alarm bells
We must raise awareness, initiate a comprehensive political debate and make Governments aware of the gravity of the problem and the implications.
- Get organised
A migrations management strategic policy is needed in each of our countries and at European level.
- Just do it
It is difficult but we have to tackle the root causes of refugee situations and irregular migration. Countries of origin need our help to build sustainable societies with accountable institutions and strong rule of law.
- Human rights are yours and mine …. and theirs…
Any person coming to our countries must enjoy the same rights and the same protection as we enjoy. We must be guided by the highest human rights standards, including those enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Integrate – integrate - integrate
Refugees and migrants have to become active members of our societies. We cannot afford to marginalise them and we cannot afford to treat them simply as temporary guests. We must remember … integration is a two way process involving migrants and their host society.
- Educate – educate - educate
This is one of the most important tools to promote integration and cohesion within our societies: we must help these newcomers, especially the young ones. Lack of education can lead to radicalisation.
- No to stereotypes and intolerance
We must speak out against any type of discrimination, intolerance or xenophobia. This is all the more important as populist and extremist ideas are on the rise within our societies.
- Think global, act local
As elected parliamentarians, we have to be active in the field, within our constituencies: talk to our citizens and reassure them, explain policy decisions, support grass-root initiatives, especially, in the field of integration and education.
I am strongly convinced that combined action in these areas will help us find solutions to one of the greatest challenges we are facing in this century.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has already taken some initiatives within the framework of this approach and let me share with you a few.
Ringing the alarm bells: we organised, in June 2015, a visit by a large group of parliamentarians from 20 European countries to refugee camps in Turkey. We saw for ourselves the enormous courage of refugees and the tremendous efforts of the Turkish authorities. We warned Syrians would be on the move massively unless action was taken. Colleagues, those who have participated brought back with them to their national parliaments a completely different vision of the migration. In a similar fashion, we will soon organise a visit by parliamentarians to the Greek island of Kos in order to gather first-hand information on the situation and the needs of the refugees and authorities.
As regards human rights, on 18 December 2015 – International Migrants Day – a number of national delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will organise visits to detention facilities for irregular migrants in order to check that their fundamental rights are respected and that the reception conditions are up to the standard.
To combat intolerance and hate, we have established a No Hate Parliamentary Alliance as a platform for parliamentarians to speak out against manifestations of extremism and hate, combat populist rhetoric, and share good practices. Many Speakers of Parliaments and Heads of State and Government have already spoken in support of the Alliance and a month ago I promoted the Alliance at the 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York. Recently, I had the immense privilege of presenting the Alliance to His Holiness Pope Francis. I am proud that he had agreed to support our Alliance.
Together with the Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament, Mr Olemic Thommessen, we have launched the idea of making the 22 July a European Day for Victims of Hate Crime and I hope that with the support of the parliamentarians from all 47 Council of Europe member states this initiative will eventually take shape.
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Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues,
You may say that these are small examples. I would answer: big changes start from small steps.
Addressing the migration phenomenon is a global issue, but it requires local action by every single one of us.
Therefore, let me appeal to all of you, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to take action at national and local levels.
I am confident that by joining efforts and we can and shall succeed. Because we have to succeed, it is our duty.
Thank you very much for your attention.