Doc. 9201
13 September 2001

A common policy on migration and asylum

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Pozza Tasca and others

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

The Assembly,

1.       Considering that on 14 June 2001 the wreck of a ship that sank off the south coast of Sicily on 26 December 1996, in which had travelled 293 immigrants from India and Pakistan, was found;

2.       Recognising that this incident proves that it is necessary to reflect about international and common policies that often do not take into account the fact that certain international situations are extremely dangerous;

3.       Noting that at the cost of enormous financial sacrifices and often of their own safety, these clandestine migrants place their fate in the hands of traffickers, unscrupulous men who are usually linked to international criminal organisations;

4.       Considering that a tragedy like this shows the importance of deciding on a common policy on migration and asylum in which the primary factor is the respect of human rights;

5.       Recognising that it is necessary to monitor and remove the cause that brings about this forced migration, to find new ways of controlling the global movement of persons and to defend the innocent from criminal organisations;

6.       Considering that the Europe we are building cannot lean on economic selfishness but that it must be an example of solidarity and justice;

7.       Having established that the cost of transit for clandestine migrants from their countries of origin to their destinations is two to three times the price of normal transport between the same locations;

8.       Considering that, because of its geographical position, Italy constitutes an almost obligatory staging post for travelling to Europe, and that it is therefore only right that Europe should also monitor closely the serious problem of clandestine migration that is afflicting the Italian coasts;

9.       Noting that the political undertakings and declarations concerning trafficking in human beings have not yet been translated adequately into harmonised criminal legislation in the different countries;

10.        Noting that the absence of specific regulations in trafficking in persons, the differences between legal systems and the lack of co-operation between police forces in the countries of origin, transit and destination allow traffickers to operate with impunity;

11.       Considering that the Council of Europe in its Recommendations 1211 (1993), 1325 (1997) and most recently, 1449 (2000) on clandestine migration from the south of the Mediterranean into Europe has drawn countries' attention to the need for a more responsible policy on controlling migration and for greater cooperation in combating the trafficking of persons,

12.       Therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers adopt a campaign against clandestine migration and trafficking in persons by criminal organisations, which would commit signatory countries to:

i.       the monitoring of clandestine migration and other forms of illegal trafficking;

ii.       the harmonisation of legislation in the criminal field and on judicial cooperation;

iii.       cooperation between and the encouragement and strengthening of networks and partnerships between the police and judicial authorities;

iv.       the revision of asylum policies;

v.       the strengthening of penalties for traffickers in human beings;

vi.       the suspension of financial aid for governments that fail to co-operate in action to combat trafficking in human beings.

Signed : ¹

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Belohorska, Slovakia, EDG

Busic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Coifan, Romania, LDR

Debono Grech, Malta, SOC

Fernández Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD

Martelli, Italy, EPP/CD

Monteiro, Portugal, SOC

De Puig, Spain, SOC

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

Schmied, Switzerland, LDR

Vella, Malta, EPP/CD

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

       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

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