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Resolution 2175 (2017)
Migration as an opportunity for European development
1. The economic development of Europe
depends upon its capacity to better utilise people’s skills and talents
and to promote innovative technologies and businesses. In a time
of economic and political crisis in Europe, all efforts should be
deployed to create cohesive societies, enabling the full and active
participation of every member in their development and economic
growth.
2. The number of migrants, including both refugees and economic
migrants, has significantly increased in recent years, presenting
a number of challenges and opportunities for Europe. The absence
of a co-ordinated migration policy at European level has given rise
to ungrounded fears among the European population, fears which have
been subsequently exploited by some political forces and media outlets
to present a distorted image of migration as a threat.
3. The Parliamentary Assembly is very concerned about this negative
approach to migration. In fact, there is a divergence between the
reality of the economic and demographic situation of Europe and
the general negative perception of the consequences of migration.
Shortages in the labour force in a number of sectors, including
farming, construction, hospitality, catering, information technology
and financial services, and population ageing as a result of increased
life expectancy combined with low birth rates, all lead to a significant reduction
in the proportion of the working age population and show that migration
could be very beneficial for Europe, if only the necessary policy
measures were implemented.
4. During the last decade, according to the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), migrants accounted
for 70% of the increase in the workforce of Europe. In recent years,
they have represented 15% of new entries in areas of expertise with
strongly growing demand such as science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. In some European counties, population growth in
recent years has only been possible because of a migration influx.
In addition, migrants bring diversity to European countries, contribute
to cultural exchanges and have an important impact on the arts,
sports, fashion, media and cuisine.
5. The Assembly considers that there is an urgent need to counter
the negative rhetoric surrounding migration and to bring to the
public’s attention the economic evidence of its benefit to European
society. All public and private actors should be involved in formulating
new evidence-based, realistic and forward-looking migration policies
for Europe, centred on its potential for development.
6. The Assembly believes that to optimise the benefits of migration
for Europe, it is necessary to eliminate a number of bureaucratic
barriers and all forms of tacit or overt discrimination against
migrants, which significantly hinder their integration into host
societies.
7. It also considers that to gain a global competitive advantage
and attract the most highly skilled specialists, European countries
should increase labour market transparency and create more safe
and legal opportunities for migration to Europe.
8. The Assembly underlines that to harness the benefits of migration,
well-devised policies should be implemented, including at local
level, which would promote knowledge of different cultures and traditions
while at the same time integrating migrants into the host societies.
Such policies would prevent possible conflicts and eradicate the
negative image of migrants.
9. The Assembly is convinced that to facilitate mutually beneficial
migration to Europe, member States should take concrete measures
in areas which have a positive impact on migration. Therefore, it
recommends that member States:
9.1. improve
national legislation by:
9.1.1. simplifying migration procedures
for skilled workers whose qualifications respond to national economic
needs;
9.1.2. providing clear regulations on the employment of unskilled
migrants and seasonal and domestic workers, as well as providing
opportunities and integration measures that specifically target
low-skilled and less-educated migrants, and by ensuring that migrants
are guaranteed the same pay and working conditions as nationals
for equal work;
9.1.3. shortening asylum procedures and considering granting
access to the labour market to asylum seekers even before completion
of the procedure;
9.1.4. introducing the right to vote and to stand in local elections
for all regular migrants after five years of residency in the host
country;
9.1.5. introducing relevant provisions punishing discrimination
against migrants;
9.2. facilitate the access of migrants to the labour market
by:
9.2.1. devising policies and action plans promoting
the inclusion of migrant women in the labour market by addressing
their specific needs;
9.2.2. improving admission conditions for the best students and
researchers from non-European countries and providing them with
attractive employment opportunities;
9.2.3. promoting effective co-operation between governments and
business communities to create and fund vocational training for
migrants;
9.2.4. supporting business initiatives of migrants by offering
microloans;
9.2.5. involving representatives of the private and public sectors,
as well as trade unions and migrant organisations, during the revision
of national migration policies;
9.3. promote inclusive societies by enabling the full and active
participation of migrants in all aspects of life by:
9.3.1. promoting
targeted national regularisation programmes for irregular migrants;
9.3.2. promoting and financially supporting local initiatives,
including initiatives of migrant organisations, aimed at increasing
the participation of migrants in the life of local communities;
9.3.3. providing all migrants with free access to civic orientation
courses in the host country;
9.3.4. providing opportunities for language learning for migrants;
9.3.5. ensuring that language and citizenship classes are made
available to asylum seekers and refugees;
9.3.6. developing educational programmes in schools to promote
knowledge of different cultures, languages and religions;
9.3.7. ensuring access to affordable and adequate health services
for all migrants, regardless of their legal status;
9.3.8. encouraging migrants’ active involvement in the activities
of political parties, trade unions and migrant and diaspora associations;
9.3.9. facilitating the naturalisation processes of migrants
after five years of regular residence in the host country;
9.4. co-operate to create a European system to facilitate social
security protection for all working migrants and their families,
protecting the social and economic rights guaranteed in the European
Social Charter (ETS No. 35) and based on the standards set in the
European Code of Social Security (ETS No. 48) and its protocol (ETS
No. 48A).
10. The Assembly encourages more co-operation between the Council
of Europe, the International Organization for Migration, the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Union,
with a view to promoting a positive image of migrants in Europe
by developing joint activities in the fields of human, economic
and social development.