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Committee Opinion | Doc. 11745 | 13 October 2008
Riots in European cities: lessons and Council of Europe response
(Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)1. The importance of the report
of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee prepared by Mr Roland Blum,
France, EPP/CD cannot be underestimated. Many European countries
have experienced violent riots in the past years. The tightening
of immigration policies has not changed the situation; riots have
continued and have become even more violent as evidenced by recent
violent riots in Brussels (May 2008), Caserta and Milano (Italy,
September 2008) and Roquetas de Mar (Spain, September 2008).
2. The European countries, all member states of the Council of
Europe, have to act together to come up with a policy of actions
to tackle and prevent future violent riots in our countries, taking
into account the specificities of each country.
3. The understanding of the incentives that make people organise
and participate in the riots is of paramount importance. As the
rapporteur rightly points out that, built out of frustration, in
some but not all cases it is the only way for these people to express
themselves and carry their message to the government.
4. The only way to improve the situation is to tackle all the
causes of the riots simultaneously. The value of this report is
that it has identified those causes, which paves the way for the
next step – the action.
5. The rapporteur notices rightly that riots should not be perceived
by justice system as individual matters, for collectivism plays
the decisive role in riots. Conviction of the people involved in
the riots will only bring out more anger against the state’s unsuccessful
policies. The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population proposes
that the Parliamentary Assembly should open a discussion on the
alternatives to custody that could be used towards the people participating
in riots.
6. The committee recommends the Assembly to consider keeping
the progress of each country’s successes and failures on its agenda.
This would enable further understanding of the situation in practices
and have the potential to lead Council of Europe member states to
the elaboration of best policies.
7. The committee particularly highlights the need to conduct
thorough research and comparative analysis of the links between
media coverage and violence during the riots, with a particular
focus on the long-term consequences of limited or recurrent coverage
of violent riots in the media and in some countries the no coverage
as a policy of government. It recalls that the restriction of the
media coverage can be used by the parties as an excuse for further
human rights violations.
8. Finally, the committee proposes the following amendments to
the draft resolution presented by the Social, Health and Family
Affairs Committee, complementing paragraph 9 with some additional recommendations
to the member states:
B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
At the end of sub-paragraph 9.1.2., add the following phrase:
“wherever possible, encourage large companies to build new housing and open new branches in disadvantaged areas with a view to improving both housing and employment conditions in these areas”
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
At the end of sub-paragraph 9.1.4., add a sentence:
“Those willing to leave the disadvantaged areas should be given more opportunities to move to new accommodation in other parts of the city/country. This will also improve integration within society”
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
After sub-paragraph 9.2.3., add a new sub-paragraph:
“consider introducing tax incentives for those companies/organisations who agree to take on board more people from disadvantaged areas”
Amendment D (to the draft resolution)
After sub-paragraph 9.2.5., add a new sub-paragraph:
“introduce quotas for children from disadvantaged areas to allow easier access to educational institutions and sponsorship/scholarships”
Amendment E (to the draft resolution)
Before sub-paragraph 9.3.1., add a new sub-paragraph:
“encourage integration of migrant communities through creating opportunities for their greater participation in public life and granting the right to vote at local level, in line with Assembly Resolution 1618 (2008) on measures to improve the democratic participation of migrants”
Amendment F (to the draft resolution)
After sub-paragraph 9.3.1., add a new sub-paragraph:
“encourage initiatives of community policing with a view to closer interaction between the population in “difficult” areas and the law enforcement officials;”
Amendment G (to the draft resolution)
In sub-paragraph 9.3.5., after the word “condemn”, insert the word “, investigate”
Amendment H (to the draft resolution)
After sub-paragraph 9.4.1., add a new sub-paragraph:
“carry out research and comparative analysis on long-term consequences of the limited or total absence of coverage of violent riots in the media”
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Reporting Committee: Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee
Committee for opinion: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population
Reference to Committee: Doc. 10782, Reference No. 3166, 23 January 2006
Opinion approved by the Committee on 2 October 2008
Secretariat of the Committee: Mr Lervik, Mr Neville, Mrs Odrats