Doc. 10021

12 December 2003

New trends and challenges for Euro-Mediterranean migration policies

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Iwiński and others

1.       Both legal and illegal migration flows have significantly augmented over the last years in the Euro-Mediterranean region, raising public awareness of their economic, social, cultural and political impact on the countries concerned.

2.       The forthcoming enlargement of the European Union will directly affect the countries of the Mediterranean region, having an important impact on migration.

3.       To effectively manage migration flows and to combat illegal migration, cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination is essential. This should include analyses of root causes, aid to sustainable development, border control, exchange of information, and creation of alternative, legal opportunities for migration.

4.       It is important to consider all aspects of migration, including the fundamental contribution of legal migration to cultural, political, economic and scientific progress of the Euro-Mediterranean region. In this context, the first Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum on Migration held in Cyprus on 20-22 October 2003, constituted an important step forward in the general debate.

5.        A European Migration Observatory with participation of non-member states of the Council of Europe, proposed to be established by the Parliamentary Assembly, may prove to be a useful instrument in the management of migration flows and in combating illegal migration.

6.       Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends the Committee of Ministers to:

i.       Continue its work on the establishment of a European Migration Observatory;

ii.        Instruct its relevant committee to explore ways of increasing co-operation with Mediterranean countries in the field of migration, and propose concrete projects in this respect;

iii.        Promote and increase the dialogue and co-operation with the European Union’s present and future members on the impact of the enlargement on migration in the region.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Iwiński, Poland, SOC

Agramunt, Spain, EPP/CD

Arabadjiev, Bulgaria, SOC

Bousakla, Belgium, SOC

Bušić, Croatia, EPP/CD

Cabrnoch, Czech Republic, EDG

Çavuşoğlu M., Turkey, EDG

Cilevičs, Latvia, SOC

Grzesik, Poland, EPP/CD

Gülçiçek, Turkey, SOC

Popa, Romania, SOC

Puche, Spain, EPP/CD

Ramoudt, Belgium, LDR

Reymann, France, EPP/CD

Tekelioğlu, Turkey, EPP/CD

Tkáč, Slovakia, EDG

Wilkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Wurm, Austria, SOC

Yáñez-Barnuevo, Spain, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group