Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14246 | 24 January 2017

Labour migration from Eastern Europe and its impact on socio-demographic processes in these countries

Signatories: Ms Kristin Ørmen JOHNSEN, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Marijana BALIĆ, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Ms Sílvia Eloïsa BONET, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Lady Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Mato FRANKOVIĆ, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway, EC ; Mr Martin HENRIKSEN, Denmark, EC ; Mr John HOWELL, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Eva-Lena JANSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Frank J. JENSSEN, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Giorgi KANDELAKI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Ms Stella KYRIAKIDES, Cyprus, EPP/CD ; Mr Christian LANGBALLE, Denmark, EC ; Mr Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Marianne MIKKO, Estonia, SOC ; Ms Liliana PALIHOVICI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Mark PRITCHARD, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Spain, SOC ; Ms Ulla SANDBÆK, Denmark, UEL ; Ms Ingjerd SCHOU, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Paul SCULLY, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Adão SILVA, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Kelly TOLHURST, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Stefaan VERCAMER, Belgium, EPP/CD ; Mr Morten WOLD, Norway, EC ; Mr Mike WOOD, United Kingdom, EC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Labour migration from Eastern European countries to the European Union and other Western European countries, has shown to have a negative effect on the social and demographic development of many of the countries of origin.

Although positive effects like influx of remittances, reduction of unemployment, possible investments into joint enterprises, and promotion of the culture of these countries abroad, the negative impacts should be considered carefully.

For the countries hardest hit by labour migration, brain-drain, fall in population, lack of contributions to the social funds are examples of typical structural problems resulting from labour migration. For some countries, it also results in serious social problems within families and local communities. A particular worrying situation is children being left behind by parents who have emigrated. These children are left with grandparents, relatives, orphanages and sometimes with older siblings.

The Parliamentary Assembly should therefore look into and analyse more closely the negative impact that labour migration has on some of the Eastern European countries of origin. Possible measures to counteract these negative effects should be considered.