Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13197 | 25 April 2013

Chinese migration to Europe: challenges and opportunities

Signatories: Mr Thierry MARIANI, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Tinatin BOKUCHAVA, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Mr Otto CHALOUPKA, Czech Republic, EDG ; Mr Irakli CHIKOVANI, Georgia, ALDE ; Ms Deirdre CLUNE, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Ms Tülin ERKAL KARA, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard FOURNIER, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Zbigniew GIRZYŃSKI, Poland, NR ; Mr László KOSZORÚS, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Mr Péter MIHALOVICS, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Ms Stefana MILADINOVIĆ, Serbia, SOC ; Mr Pasquale NESSA, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Rovshan RZAYEV, Azerbaijan, EPP/CD ; Mr Giuseppe SARO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Ms Ingjerd SCHOU, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Ionuţ-Marian STROE, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Petros TATSOPOULOS, Greece, UEL ; Mr Eric VORUZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Naira ZOHRABYAN, Armenia, ALDE

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

Chinese migration to Europe has increased in scale. Chinese migrants now come from a much wider range of origins, social backgrounds, professions. They are becoming increasingly dispersed throughout Europe, entering in different ways and carrying out different activities. An estimated 2.8 million Chinese reside in the Council of Europe member States today, with the largest populations in Russia, France, United Kingdom and Italy. Their numbers are growing rapidly, particularly in Southern and Central Europe.

Many Chinese are obliged to work illegally after being exploited by unscrupulous Chinese traffickers. These workers are not entitled to any legal protection and their working conditions are more often than not a new form of slavery.

However, the above does not give a complete overview of the situation. The issue of Chinese migration also concerns the development of “Chinese ghettos” on the one hand and the isolation of Chinese families in many European towns on the other hand.

Moreover, Chinese economic growth has led to new challenges and opportunities in Europe with not only an impact on industry, schools and universities but also new migration flows and new challenges with regard to intercultural dialogue and the integration of this population.

The Assembly therefore believes that it is necessary to consider how governments can rise to these new challenges and seize the resulting opportunities.