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15 September 1992
Doc. 6658
1403-11/9/92-2-E
O P I N I O N
on OECD activities in 1991 in the field
of migration and demography1
(Rapporteur: Mr GRUSSENMEYER, France, RPR)
Introduction
1. The Rapporteur has examined with interest the activities of OECD in 1991 in the field of migration and demography. In addition to offering some comments and suggestions, this opinion summarises activities described in the annual report of OECD for 1991 and the 1991 report of the Continuous Reporting System on Migration (SOPEMI).
Migration
2. An international conference on migration, under the auspices of OECD and the Italian Deputy Prime Minister's Office, was held in Rome on 13-15 March 1991. Inspired by the findings of that conference, the Ministerial Council of OECD on 4 and 5 June 1991 stressed the increasing importance of international migration issues, inviting OECD to intensify its work on assessing and comparing migratory flows and their trends. The Council also invited OECD to assess the economic and social causes and consequences of migration both for the receiving and the sending countries and to evaluate possible policy responses to emigration countries. It also called for increasing exchange of information on national policies and practices.
3. The mandate of the Working Party on Migration expired in July 1992, but in view of the Ministers' recommendations and the growing weight of migration in the national economies, the mandate was prolonged. A Panel of Experts had been appointed in 1991 to advise the Secretary General on OECD's future activities concerning international migration. It held two meetings in 1991 and formulated recommendations as to the new mandate of the Working Party on Migration.
4. SOPEMI was enlarged in 1991 by the inclusion of new correspondents from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, Hungary and Poland. Further expansion was foreseen. Hopefully this system will cover the whole of Europe as soon as possible.
5. As reliable and comparable statistics are the indispensable basis of efficient administration, OECD's efforts in helping the recently democratised countries in central and eastern Europe develop their statistical systems and administrations are of great importance. Factors underlying migratory movements, such as long-term demographic trends, economic performance, employment and wages, but also education and environmental safety should be taken into account when developing statistical systems and administrations.
6. The expected and much feared "explosion" of migration from eastern Europe to the West has not yet materialised. But while preparing for such an eventuality, well functioning contacts between the potential receiving countries and the potential sending countries should be created. OECD can help considerably in achieving this goal, for instance through its PIT (Partners in Transition) programme.
7. OECD also promotes management of human resources as a means of raising productivity and improving the quality of service in the public sector. With the aim of forestalling uncontrollable population movements in the future, these activities should be extended to the PIT countries as well.
8. Although the actual number of people migrating to the OECD area or within it may not be alarmingly high, migratory movements of people have become a factor that has to be taken into account when managing national economies of OECD member States. OECD with its experience and capacity offers an excellent instrument which can be used in co-operation with other international organisations. While the OECD will no doubt continue to place the main emphasis of its work on the economic and labour market aspects of migration, and the Council of Europe on the legal and social aspects, there is much to be gained by closer co-operation between the two organisations in the migration field.
Demography
9. OECD quite correctly continues to stress the importance of the demographic factors for the economic development of its member countries and above all for the development of most Third World countries. In 37 such countries the annual population increase exceeds 3 per cent; this neutralises almost any economic development that can possibly be attained.
10. Especially after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development population matters, not very satisfactorily dealt with by that conference, have attracted even more attention than before. OECD countries, when giving development assistance, should pay
increasing attention to demographic issues in their dealings with authorities of the recipient countries. Human developments factors (food, education, family planning, health care) are important in reducing high birth rates.
11. As on earlier occasions, the Rapporteur wishes to stress that co-operation between OECD and the Council of Europe in the field of migration and demography has been satisfactory which, however, does not exclude the possibility of its further development, taking into account the fact that the Council of Europe is rapidly becoming a truly pan-European organisation.
Points for inclusion in the draft resolution in reply to the report on OECD activities in 1991
12. The committee proposed that the following text be inserted in the draft resolution to be presented by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development:
"... migration and demography" :
i. International migration plays an increasingly important role in the economies of both the receiving and the sending countries, especially in conditions of sluggish economic performance and persistent unemployment in the West, considerable difficulties in the transition from command economy to market economy in the East, and rapid population growth in the south.
ii. For the accurate assessment of the impact of international migration, reliable statistics and close contacts between the authorities of sending and receiving countries are indispensable.
iii. The Assembly therefore invites OECD:
a. to carry out studies of the economic consequences of migration in order to provide better tools for governments to deal with this persistent phenomenon;
b. to continue associating central and eastern European countries as well as countries of the Third World with its work on migration and demography and particularly with its efforts to improve the reliability and comparability of statistical data and the management of human resources;
c. to further develop its co-operation with the Council of Europe in matters concerning international migration and demography;
d. to hasten the inclusion of Eastern European countries in the Continuous Reporting System (SOPEMI);
e. to study the possibility of recommending to the governments of its member states some form of linkage between the granting of development assistance and family planning programmes in the recipient countries.
Reporting committee: Committee on Economic Affairs and Development (Doc. 6651).
Committee for opinion: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography (and competent committees).
Reference to committee: Doc. 6624 and Reference No. 1792 of 30 June 1992.
Draft opinion: Approved by the committee on 9 September 1992.
Secretaries to the committee: Mr Newman and Mrs Ruotanen.