18th progress report of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population

Recommendation 744 (1974)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Text adopted by the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 27 November 1974. See Doc. 3507, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees.

The Assembly,

1. Having considered the 18th progress report of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population (Doc. 3465) ;

2. Appreciating the important work already accomplished by the Special Representative and his Advisory Committee with the aim of improving conditions for migrant workers ;

3. Considering that the present economic situation has affected the employment market and especially that of migrant workers ;

4. Being of the opinion that the energy crisis has marked the beginning of a new era in immigration policies, especially in the member states of the Council of Europe ;

5. Being of the opinion that immigration policies should be revised in order to establish migration patterns that are more balanced and better suited to the medium and long-term needs of emigration countries,

6. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite member governments :

a to adopt immigration policies that will avoid discrimination between indigenous and migrant workers in the event of a recession, particularly when workers are laid off ;

b to arrange vocational training for migrant workers in such a way that the needs of emigration countries are also taken into consideration and that migrants returning to their countries of origin will have greater chances of finding employment suited to their qualifications ;

c to contribute, in agreement with the governments concerned, to the industrial expansion of emigration countries by encouraging the transfer of capital and industries into those countries ;

d to ensure that the resolutions relating to migrant workers adopted by the Committee of Ministers are more conscientiously applied ;

7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

a adopt, before the end of 1974, the draft resolution on the reunion of migrant workers' families within member states of the Council of Europe ;

b provide the necessary funds to increase the number of experimental language classes for migrant workers and of special experimental classes for their children ;

c adopt the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers and open it for signature by member states at the beginning of 1975.