For a European policy on diasporas
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 24 June 2021 (21st sitting) (see Doc. 15250, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and
Displaced Persons, rapporteur: Mr Paulo Pisco). Text adopted by the Assembly on
24 June 2021 (21st sitting).See also Recommendation 2207 (2021).
1. An increasing number of European
States recognise the positive impact of diaspora communities on European
society, and therefore promote their involvement in political processes
by developing national policies to encourage their participation
and by adopting governmental strategies to implement these policies.
2. Diaspora members make a positive contribution to the development
of European countries and of their home countries, including by
enriching host countries’ cultural diversity and building dynamic
and constructive relations with their countries of origin for the
purposes of economic and cultural exchange and co-development. They
also facilitate the integration of, and provide support to, newly
arrived migrants in terms of their economic, political, legal and
cultural interests. They also help new arrivals to cope with psychological
factors relating to language barriers, the loss of their usual social
networks, legal uncertainty and inequality of access to social welfare.
3. Despite this positive impact, diaspora communities are sometimes
seen to be manipulated by their countries of origin or non-state
actors for political or other purposes. They can also find themselves
labelled as “dangerous”. Intolerance, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia
and antisemitism are constant challenges, which hold them back from
making positive contributions to the societies in which they live.
These challenges pose an obstacle to their integration and inclusion
in host countries. It is thus important to counter erroneous perceptions
and valorise the advantages that different diasporas bring to our
societies as well as to prevent the manifestation of any forms of
discrimination against diasporas.
4. The Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its determination to
tackle diaspora-related issues in a number of resolutions and recommendations,
most recently in its
Resolution
1696 (2009) and
Recommendation
1890 (2009) “Engaging European diasporas: the need for
governmental and intergovernmental responses” and in
Resolution 2043 (2015) “Democratic
participation for migrant diasporas”, as well as by setting up a
sub-committee on diasporas and integration and the Parliamentary
Network on Diaspora Policies, which was tasked with making specific
recommendations in this area. The conclusions drawn from the activities
of the parliamentary network underline the urgent need to develop
a European strategy on diasporas.
5. Therefore, the Assembly encourages member States to take concrete
action at national, regional and international levels to promote
diaspora engagement policies and create a positive environment for
the fulfilment of the potential of diasporas. This should be done
by:
5.1 collecting and processing
data and information concerning their nationals living abroad in
order to facilitate the development of diaspora-related policies,
while respecting data protection principles;
5.2 creating national mechanisms and institutions dedicated
to diasporas to ensure better co-operation and the involvement of
diasporas in society. These mechanisms should involve countries’ representations
abroad;
5.3 drawing up road maps to support the engagement of diaspora
networks and associations and organise regular formal and informal
meetings with their representatives, including by using the opportunities
provided by new information technologies;
5.4 signing bilateral agreements supporting the integration
process for migrants, which facilitate the study of the language,
culture and legal procedures in host countries;
5.5 engaging with diaspora community leaders and representatives
to detect and prevent incidences of intolerance, racism, xenophobia
and other forms of anti-migrant discrimination, and support joint activities
promoting mutual respect and social cohesion;
5.6 involving diaspora members in policy making, in particular
concerning questions of citizenship, as well as those concerning
their economic, social and cultural rights;
5.7 organising parliamentary hearings on diaspora-related
topics to promote the exchange of experiences and good practices;
5.8 appointing a special diplomatic counsellor on diasporas
and citizens abroad in diplomatic representations, where relevant,
empowered to build confidence and engage with diasporas by providing
specific services and useful information, as well as targeted co-operation.
6. The Assembly underlines the importance of ensuring respect
for the political, social, economic and cultural rights of diaspora
members, and supporting them to be active and productive members
of their communities.
7. The Assembly is convinced that diaspora policies across member
States should focus on promoting the political integration of diaspora
communities into their host countries, while also encouraging and
facilitating ongoing engagement with their countries of origin.
When diaspora communities participate in political processes, they
become active members of society, thus making it harder for extremist
and populist groups to turn them into scapegoats by taking advantage
of their political exclusion. Member States should adapt legislation,
standards and procedures, as far as possible, to enable diaspora
communities to exercise their right to democratic participation.
Members States should do this by:
7.1 ratifying,
if they have not already done so, the Council of Europe’s Convention
on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local level
(ETS No. 144) and aligning national electoral laws regarding the
participation of diaspora communities with the standards set out
in the convention;
7.2 working to promote political participation and dual citizenship
to the greatest possible extent. In this regard, the organisation
of multistakeholder consultations at national level between diaspora associations,
minority groups, business leaders, government officials and other
relevant actors, should be promoted to inform State policies on
political participation and citizenship and disseminate good practice;
7.3 simplifying administrative requirements for diaspora members
to exercise their right to political participation, in particular
by creating diaspora focal points in national electoral commissions;
7.4 promoting electronic and postal voting across member States
to facilitate the democratic engagement of diaspora members who
would otherwise be required to travel to their countries of origin to
vote;
7.5 granting to diaspora members the right to elect their
representatives to parliament in their countries of origin;
7.6 supporting diaspora associations in promoting the political
participation of their community members in host countries, and
empowering eligible members of their communities to run for election.
8. The Assembly believes that the involvement of diasporas in
the economies of countries of origin can help in building strong,
successful and cohesive societies. Member States should encourage
actions that maximise the positive contributions of diaspora communities
in national and local development and poverty reduction strategies
in countries of origin, with a focus on supporting investment, entrepreneurship,
knowledge transfer, innovation and philanthropy. This should be
done by:
8.1 involving representatives
of diasporas in the preparation of annual development strategies
and implementation mechanisms;
8.2 creating incentives for returning diaspora members, by
ensuring that they can benefit from taxation, retirement and other
economic advantages;
8.3 promoting and fostering diaspora members’ entrepreneurship
through access to investment information, along with clear customs
and import incentives;
8.4 facilitating the recognition of diaspora members’ diplomas,
education certificates and professional qualifications obtained
abroad;
8.5 adopting legislation and policies facilitating and regulating
remittance transfers, using modern technologies and avoiding double
taxation;
8.6 supporting the formation of diaspora business networks
through trade fairs and business summits, training programmes on
international trade regulations and procedures for diaspora-owned businesses;
8.7 creating one-stop shops to help diaspora investors identify
opportunities that are in line with the government development policies
for the private sector, accompany diaspora investors through the necessary
administrative procedures and help to address any complaints and
mediate conflicts.
9. Recalling Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)1 of the Committee of
Ministers to member States on intercultural integration, which points
to the value of diversity as a resource for societies, the Assembly underlines
that diasporas, representing various cultures and religions, play
a pivotal role in helping migrants integrate by acting as a bridge
to help newcomers understand the customs, codes and values in the
host countries. Local authorities, from both the countries of origin
and host countries, have a key role in engaging and co-operating
with diaspora members in order to devise and implement measures
aimed at promoting inclusion, in particular of new migrants, by:
9.1 involving diaspora members in
local policy debates and decision making;
9.2 engaging diaspora members in local development processes, inter alia, in the fields of business, tourism,
education and culture;
9.3 supporting diaspora initiatives in the organisation of
cultural and social events in the spirit of intercultural exchange
and co-creation;
9.4 establishing and ensuring the effectiveness of cross-border,
interterritorial and city-to-city co-operation and co-development
agreements;
9.5 holding regular training and information sessions on the
political systems of their host country and their right to democratic
participation, as electors and potential political candidates;
9.6 supporting, with information and education, the access
of diaspora members to public-sector jobs, including in expert and
management positions;
9.7 simplifying administrative obligations for diaspora associations,
including their registration process, and allocating public space
and access to public and international funding;
9.8 developing effective partnerships with diaspora organisations
to promote social inclusion and integration of newly arrived migrants
in their communities as well as by creating strong connections of mutual
respect and trust with host societies;
9.9 supporting policies promoting the study of the language
of the host country, as well as the mother tongue of the diaspora.
10. The Assembly considers that the creation of strategic partnerships
between States, civil society, the private sector and international
organisations to create a framework for the empowerment of diasporas
should be the primary objective in the development of a European
diaspora policy. Therefore, it encourages member States to provide
the necessary support to diaspora associations by:
10.1 promoting leadership among diaspora
members through the organisation of training and educational programmes,
which should also enable strong connections between diasporas and
host communities;
10.2 supporting multistakeholder platforms and civil society
coalitions, which are essential for:
10.2.1 facilitating
greater dialogue and consultation between the host society and diaspora associations;
10.2.2 co-ordinating technical assistance and capacity building;
10.2.3 implementing special grant programmes for projects promoting
links between host society organisations and diaspora associations
and encouraging their interaction;
10.2.4 promoting social media platforms to connect with diaspora
populations, both in countries of origin and host countries, and
organising open online platforms for all diaspora-related projects and
initiatives;
10.2.5 encouraging media coverage of the activities of diasporas
and promoting a positive image of diasporas, as well as knowledge
and understanding of the host society among the members of a diaspora;
10.2.6 facilitating better understanding and appreciation of
cultural diversity that diaspora and migrant communities bring,
through supporting intercultural activities in the fields of sport,
music, arts, culinary festivals and other social events.
11. The Assembly invites international organisations, in particular
the Council of Europe, the International Organization for Migration
(IOM), the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD), to work closely together to develop co-operation
programmes involving, inter alia, diaspora
associations.
