18 February 1994

Doc. 7025

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Reply to Recommendation 1206 (1993)

on the integration of migrants and community relations

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 January 1994

at the 508th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

1.       The Committee of Ministers shares the Assembly's view that the marginality of migrants is a source of social tension and conflict.

2.       It recalls, with regard to paragraph 15.i, that the European Ministers responsible for Migration Affairs, at their 4th Conference held in Luxembourg in September 1991, decided to "disseminate [the community relations] report widely among interested circles in each country and to promote debate on it both publicly and within official bodies responsible for policy or consultation in the field of migration and the integration of immigrants". The European Committee on Migration (CDMG), whose opinion on this recommendation has been sought by the Committee of Ministers, considers that the report is as relevant as ever to the situation in many member states, including the new ones, and hopes that renewed attention will be given to it by the appropriate authorities.

3.       With regard to paragraph 15.ii, it should be noted that Project III.3 on "the integration of immigrants: towards equal opportunities" forms the centre-piece of the CDMG's current activities, and that this project will be actively pursued in 1994 and 1995.

4.       As far as paragraph 15.iii.a is concerned, the CDMG considers that, although a detailed monitoring process would not be the best use of resources, a follow-up conference, which should not only review past action but also take the process of reflection on community relations a stage further, could play a useful role. It should be noted in this context that, at the 5th Conference of European Ministers responsible for Migration Affairs (Athens, 18-19 November 1993), the Ministers "called for further reflection on some of the underlying issues raised in the [community relations] report and for an examination of the progress achieved as well as the difficulties experienced with its implementation in different countries". They will review progress at their next conference.

5.       Regarding paragraph 15.iii.b, the CDMG considers that member states could be encouraged to conduct their own examinations of their national situation and policies with regard to community relations and to inform the CDMG of the results in the framework of its regular exchanges of information.

6.       With reference to paragraph 15.iii.c, the CDMG is of the opinion that the priority problem is not so much how to maintain the relationship between migrants and their country of origin as the question of how such relationships affect the process of integration in the host country. It should also be noted that the specific question of dual nationality is under consideration within the Committee of Experts on Multiple Nationality (CJ-PL).

7.       The Committee of Ministers recalls, as far as paragraph 15.iii.d is concerned, that the CDMG has recently set up a Select Committee of Experts on Short-Term Migration (MG-R-MT) whose terms of reference include drawing up guidelines for the legal protection of short-term migrants, and whose work is intended to include consideration of the social rights of such migrants.

8.       With regard to paragraph 15.iii.e, the Committee of Ministers encourages the participation of foreigners in public life at local level, as witnessed by its adoption of and the opening for signature on 5 February 1992 of the convention on this issue. The CDMG considers that a study of how such participation works out in practice could perhaps be of interest in the future.

9.       It should be noted, concerning paragraph 15.iii.f, that the 1994 Intergovernmental Programme of Activities provides both for a study, to be carried out jointly by the CDMG and the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG), on "migration and cultural diversity: implications for the equality of women and men", and, in the framework of the above-mentioned Project III.3, for a study of the cultural and religious aspects of equality of opportunity for migrants.

10.       Regarding paragraph 15.iv, the heads of state and government meeting at the Vienna Summit (8-9 October 1993), adopted a Declaration and Plan of Action on combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance. The implementation of these texts is currently being considered by the Committee of Ministers. It should be noted, however, that such implementation will necessarily be of a multidisciplinary nature, and that, following the wish expressed by the Ministers meeting at the 5th Conference of European Ministers responsible for Migration Affairs, the CDMG should play a prominent role in the implementation of the Plan of Action.

11.       The CDMG, in that part of its opinion concerning paragraph 15.v, supports the recommendation contained therein and notes its willingness to serve as a framework for exchange of experience between any such national bodies.

12.       With regard to paragraph 15.vi, the CDMG is currently examining proposals which would meet the need for increased availability of information between the Organisation's member states.