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Resolution 2083 (2015)
Chinese migration to Europe: challenges and opportunities
1. With China becoming the largest
economy in the world, the migration flows with Europe have increased exponentially
in recent decades. Following the liberalisation of the Chinese economy
and the relaxation of Chinese mobility restrictions, Europe has
become a popular destination for Chinese migrants. Around 2.8 million
Chinese citizens currently reside legally in Council of Europe member
States, with the largest groups in France, Italy, the Russian Federation
and the United Kingdom. Well-established family networks have allowed
migrants to follow their friends and relatives to communities in
cities across Europe, in many cases by using illegal channels.
2. The Parliamentary Assembly considers that the growing Chinese
population across Europe presents a number of opportunities but
also important challenges, which should be addressed through legislation
and policy, both in individual member States and at the European
level.
3. The Assembly is concerned that many Chinese migrants use illegal
smuggling networks to reach Europe and are exploited by traffickers.
These irregular migrants are not entitled to any legal protection
and are often faced with extremely dangerous and poor working conditions.
4. The issue of integrating Chinese migrants represents another
challenge for European migration policies. The problem of the isolation
of Chinese communities in many European cities requires strong political
will at all administrative levels to encourage a dialogue with Chinese
organisations and their involvement in the decision-making process
on issues concerning them.
5. The Assembly also believes that the influx of Chinese migrants
to Europe should be viewed in terms of the inherent potential for
economic growth which these migrants present. Both China and Europe
stand to gain a great deal from increased relations and mutual investment.
6. With the aim of maximising the benefits of increased migration
between China and Europe, the Assembly calls on its member States
to:
6.1. develop co-operation with
the relevant Chinese authorities on data collection and reporting
on irregular migration;
6.2. enhance collaboration with the Chinese authorities on
criminal investigations to identify trafficking and smuggling networks
operating between Europe and China;
6.3. provide training programmes for Chinese immigration officials,
police, consular officers and travel agencies on fraudulent documents
and the risks of smuggling;
6.4. facilitate access to the nationality of the host country
and grant long-term residence permits to Chinese migrants;
6.5. develop policies that facilitate the possibilities for
qualified students to find work in Europe after their studies;
6.6. sign bilateral agreements with China on social security,
education and other integration-related issues;
6.7. promote a positive image of Chinese migration in Europe,
focusing on its benefits and the new opportunities it brings;
6.8. promote intercultural dialogue between Chinese communities
and the communities of the host countries, including other migrant
communities;
6.9. develop dialogue with Chinese organisations and civil
society to create projects responding to the integration needs of
Chinese communities;
6.10. identify and promote the best practices of Chinese integration
in Europe;
6.11. encourage the representation of Chinese communities at
local level;
6.12. facilitate the preservation of links between Chinese migrants
and their country of origin by supporting projects promoting the
use of new communication technologies in the Chinese language.
7. The Assembly invites the European Union and relevant international
organisations, in particular the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), to develop programmes aimed at promoting co-operation between
Europe and China in the field of migration.