The participation of immigrants and foreign residents in political life in the Council of Europe member states

Doc. 7525
19 April 1996

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION
presented by Mr GROSS and others

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

1.         If a substantial number of a country's long-established immigrants cannot participate meaningfully in political life, then they are deprived of the means to defend their rights and interests, thereby undermining the legitimacy of the political system. Moreover, their successful integration is jeopardized.

2.         Yet this is the situation of millions of legally established immigrants and foreign residents in the Council of Europe member states.

3.         Although the right to vote and stand in local, regional and European elections has been granted to citizens of European Union countries residing in another European Union member state, the extension of voting rights to nationals of other countries is extremely limited in most Council of Europe member states.

4.         The European Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level, opened for signature in 1992, still lacks the number of ratifications required for its entry into force.

5.         Therefore, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

i.          undertake a review of the participation of immigrants and foreign residents in political life in the Council of Europe member states;

ii.          adopt a recommendation to the governments of the member states designed to extend and harmonise the political rights of immigrants and foreign residents and to promote the effective implementation of these rights;

iii.         urge those Council of Europe member states which have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the European Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level.

sign�:
Gross, Switzerland, SOC
Aguiar, Portugal, LDR
Trojan, Czech Republic, SOC
Beaufays, Belgium, EPP
Laakso, Finland, UEL
Garajova, Slovakia, LDR
Billing, Sweden, EDG
Brennan, Ireland, LDR
Stepanov, Ukraine, UEL
Karpachova, Ukraine, -
Iwinski, Poland, SOC
Paasilinna, Finland, SOC
Hunt, United Kingdom, EDG
Guirado, Spain, SOC
Vangelov, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, SOC

*          SOC : Socialist Group
            EPP : Group of the European People's Party
            EDG : European Democratic Group
            LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
            UEL : Group of the Unified European Left