Print
See related documents
Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 12377 | 04 October 2010
Engaging European diasporas: the need for governmental and intergovernmental responses
1. The Committee of Ministers has given
close attention to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1890 (2009) on “Engaging
European diasporas: the need for governmental and intergovernmental
responses”. It has communicated the recommendation, together with Resolution 1696 (2009),
to the governments of member states for due consideration, to the
European Committee on Migration (CDMG),as well as to the European
Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ).
2. The Committee of Ministers is aware that migrant diasporas
offer the potential for strengthening governmental and intergovernmental
actions aimed at the integration of migrants, social cohesion and development.
It concurs that migrant diasporas also have an important role to
play in the relations between receiving and origin countries. It
recalls that at their 8th Conference (Kiev, 4-5 September 2008),
the European Ministers responsible for migration affairs agreed
to work together in strengthening the role of migrant diasporas
as development actors in international relations (cf. Final Declaration,
paragraph 30).
3. The Committee of Ministers has noted with interest the various
suggestions of the Assembly for activities in this field. Whilst
acknowledging the importance of the issues addressed, it would recall
that, in the light of the current priorities and reforms of the
Organisation, a general review of the Council of Europe’s activities
in the field of migration is currently under way, including an evaluation,
in the framework of the internal audit of the Organisation, of the
Ordinary Budget Programme on Migration. The aim is to better streamline
work in this area to achieve better co-ordination and retain activities
with high impact. At this juncture, the Assembly will understand
that the Committee of Ministers cannot, at present, consider follow-up
to the specific proposals outlined in the recommendation.
4. It would however signal that, in recent years, the CDMG has
addressed the role of diasporas of migrant communities in their
relations with their countries of origin by undertaking studies
and developing technical policy advice to member states. In this
respect, the Committee of Ministers would, in particular, draw attention to
the supplement to the Migration Management Strategy on
challenges for countries of origin which includes a chapter on migration
and development in which detailed technical policy advice is set
out.
5. The Committee of Ministers would also draw attention to its
Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)10 on co-development and migrants working
for development in their countries of origin. This text provides
detailed technical advice to governments on how to support migrants
who wish to invest in development projects in their countries of
origin. It covers issues such as partnership building, mobility
of migrants working on development projects, project support and
assistance, training and financing.
6. Other relevant studies prepared under the responsibility of
the CDMG include a critical review of source literature on migrant
sponsored development initiatives and the role of migrant diasporas
in development in both origin and receiving countries. Current projects of the CDMG
also address the role of migrant diasporas in supporting development
in their countries of origin. For example, one such project on empowering
migrants and strengthening social cohesion includes a technical
assistance element (yet to be commenced) on providing training to
policy makers in South-East Europe and Eastern Europe on how to
develop links between diasporas and countries of origin.
7. The Committee of Ministers would also inform the Assembly
that a priority of the Organisation in 2011 will be to review the
relevance of all Council of Europe conventions. The result of the
review will provide a basis for decisions on follow-up, including
measures to increase the visibility and the number of States Parties
to relevant conventions. The Committee of Ministers may then encourage
those member states that have not yet done so to consider ratifying
the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (ETS
No. 93), the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public
Life at Local level (ETS No. 144) and the European Convention on
Nationality (ETS No. 166). Finally, with regard to the question
of nationality, the Committee of Ministers would also draw attention
to Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)13 on the nationality of children.