Doc. 9161

3 July 2001

Policies for the integration of immigrants in Council of Europe member states

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Ms Zwerver and others

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

1.       Legal migrants have become a permanent feature of European societies. The number of long term immigrants including asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status in Council of Europe member states is on a rise.

2.       The presence of immigrants can be an enriching and positive factor for the development of a host country. Active contribution of migrants to a country's prosperity should be encouraged and stimulated. This cannot be separated from a successful integration of migrants into a host society. Such integration is a precondition of mutual benefit. To the contrary, its lack can be a potential source of social tension and conflict.

3.       The integration of immigrants can be considered in many aspects (eg. legal, political, economic, social, cultural) and on different levels (national, regional, local). Although in some countries a lot of progress has been achieved in numerous areas of integration, much still has to be done and many obstacles exist in Council of Europe member states.

4.       In general these obstacles can be put into three categories: discriminatory legal measures (laws, regulations); inadequate social structures (access to social rights, administrative practices); hostile attitude of host population (racism, discrimination etc).

5.       The Assembly is convinced that immigration policies in Council of Europe member states should facilitate the process of integration from the earliest stage of status determination procedure.

6.       The Assembly is concerned by the fact that many Council of Europe member states have no comprehensive and consistent migration policies.

7.       Therefore the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       include in the intergovernmental work of the Council of Europe relevant activities in this area;

ii.       call on the member states to:

a. review their immigration policies with a view to making them more compatible with the integration of immigrants;

b. examine the possibility of speeding up the status determination procedure and making it more compatible with the process of integration.

Signed : ¹

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

Aguiar, Portugal, EPP/CD

Bušić, Croatia, EPP/CD

Cilevičs, Latvia, SOC

Connor, Ireland, EPP/CD

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL

Jařab, Czech Republic, LDR

Lörcher, Germany, SOC

Ouzky, Czech Republic, EDG

Soendergaard, Denmark, UEL

Stoisits, Austria, SOC

Tkác, Slovakia, EDG

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