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Doc. 9135
25 June 2001
Council of Europe Development Bank: toward a Europe of greater social cohesion
Opinion1
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography
Rapporteur: Mr Agustín Díaz de Mera, Spain, Group of the European People's Party
I. Conclusions of the committee
The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography based on the analysis made by its rapporteur, proposes the following amendments to the draft recommendation contained in the report of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development:
At the end of paragraph 4 add the following sentence:
“It deplores, however, the dramatically low level of aid given to refugees, displaced persons and migrants.”
At the end of paragraph 9.ii.b add the words:
“, in particular for projects in favour of refugees, displaced persons and migrants – including provisions for education and training.”
II. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Díaz de Mera
1. Introduction
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has evolved over the years to become a highly trusted banking institution. As stated in the excellent report by Mr Lotz for the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, the CEB has increasingly focused on New Priorities such as job creation, health, education and other projects favouring social cohesion. The 2nd Council of Europe Summit encouraged this in 1997. This type of projects can of course be of major importance also for refugees, displaced persons and migrants although projects aiming directly at giving support to this group of people are classified under Traditional priorities. It is therefore the duty of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography to scrutinize the balance between these priority areas and in particular look at the project portfolio for Traditional priorities.
2. Refugees, displaced persons and migrants
The Committee, in preparation of its opinion, had an extremely useful exchange of views with the Deputy Governor of the Bank, Mr Nunzio Guglielmino, during its Conference on refugees and displaced persons in the South Caucasus (Baku, 17-19 May 2001). Your rapporteur on behalf of the Committee wants to thank Mr Guglielmino once more for his clear presentation of the Bank’s activities, including its projects in favour of refugees, displaced persons and migrants.
In response to questions raised by Committee members, Mr Guglielmino reminded the Committee that Article II of the Agreement of the CEB, adopted by the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies in 1993 reads as follows:
"a. The primary purpose of the Bank is to help in solving the social problems with which European countries are or may be faced as a result of the presence of refugees, displaced persons or migrants consequent upon movements of refugees or other forced movements of populations and as a result of the presence of victims of natural or ecological disasters.
The investment projects to which the Bank contributes may be intended either to help such people in the country in which they find themselves or to enable them to return to their countries of origin when the conditions for return are met or, where applicable, to settle in another host country. These projects must be approved by a Member of the Bank.
b. The Bank may also contribute to the realisation of investment projects approved by a Member of the Bank which enable jobs to be created in disadvantaged regions, people in low income groups to be housed or social infrastructure to be created."
When undertaking a closer analysis of the project portfolio of the Bank, it is worrying to discover the dramatically low level of projects aiming directly at giving aid to refugees, displaced persons and migrants: only 2.06 % in 1998, down to 0.09 % in 1999, and a mere 1.59 % in 2000.
Given the enormous problems of refugees, displaced persons and migrants in Council of Europe member states, it seems not only inadequate, but also irresponsible and immoral that the Council of Europe’s own Development Bank and its member states are unwilling and incapable of giving this group more help. The Bank and its member states must in the present situation put much more emphasis on defining projects for and giving aid to those who have fled their homes, to those who are prevented from returning to their home regions, to those who lack schools and training institutions as well as basic health services – not to mention job prospects or a simple perspective for the future.
A considerable proportion of refugees, displaced persons and migrants are young people and children. This is a particularly vulnerable group, but also one with many promises for the future. This is why, in your rapporteur’s opinion, the Bank and its member states must show more imagination, initiative and willingness to formulate and implement projects in favour of this youth group. The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, through its sub-Committee on Migration and in co-operation with the European Youth Centre, will organise a Hearing to specifically address the needs of this population in the autumn 2001.
It should be added in this context that the Bank and its member states have taken laudable initiatives in favour of refugees, displaced persons and migrants (but too few). Some of these are referred to in the main report. The use of the Selective Trust Account in this context is a welcome innovative approach where the Bank and member states can play a significant role in helping to alleviate the suffering of refugees, displaced persons and migrants. A recent example is the Bank’s decision in April 2001 to grant "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" an envelope of € 1 million to purchase basic supplies to meet the needs of people displaced due to the recent hostilities on its territory.
3. Conclusions
Your rapporteur believes that the Bank and its member states could and should seek to develop and implement more projects directly responding to the specific needs of refugees, displaced persons and migrants. An important development in this direction would be to improve project design and project planning for this vulnerable target group. Co-operation is important not only with member states (and possibly also receiving non-member states), but also with organisations such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the many other very active Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the field. A specific emphasis should be given to satisfy training and educational needs of the youth.
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Reporting committee: Committee on Economic Affairs and Development.
Committee for opinion: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography.
Origin: Resolution 1235 (2000).
Draft opinion approved by the committee on 25 June 2001.
Secretaries to the committee: Mr Lervik, Mrs Nachilo, Ms Sirtori.