19th progress report of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population

Recommendation 766 (1975)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 2 October 1975 (11th Sitting) (see Doc. 3652, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 1975 (11th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Having considered the 19th progress report of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population (Doc. 3623) ;

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

3. Noting that the actual implications of the present economic situation for intra-European migratory movements and the evolution of migration problems were foreseen in the previous progress report of the Special Representative ;

4. Being of the opinion that the recent economic recession has clearly demonstrated the existence of disparities between indigenous and migrant workers, and the fragility of the present systems of guarantees for the latter, especially in the field of dismissals ;

5. Considering the importance and urgency of revising immigration policies, in order to establish new migration patterns better suited to the present economic situation in Europe ;

6. Deeply regretting that the draft European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers, on which the Assembly gave an opinion in January 1971, has not yet been adopted by the Committee of Ministers,

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

a to take measures that will avoid discrimination between indigenous and migrant workers, notably during the present European economic recession, and to implement fully the proposals contained in Recommendation 712 (1973) on the integration of migrant workers with the society of their host countries ;

b to adopt measures, in the context of overall employment policy, which avoid or limit to the greatest possible extent the unemployment of migrant workers during economic recession in emigration and immigration countries ;

c to encourage and facilitate further the transfer of capital and industries into emigration countries, with a view to creating more jobs in the regions with a labour surplus ;

d . to report to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the action they have taken on the Committee of Ministers' resolutions relating to migrant workers ;

8. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

a adopt, before the end of 1975, the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers, and open it for signature by member states at the beginning of 1976 ;

b adopt the draft resolutions on :

the reunion of migrant workers' families within member states of the Council of Europe ;

equal treatment of migrants and national workers with regard to vocational guidance, training and retraining ;

the model work contract for migrant workers, and

the draft school career and health record for children attending school abroad ;

c provide the necessary funds to increase the number of migrant workers' experimental language classes sponsored by the Council of Europe from two to five ;

d . take action, in accordance with Recommendation 756 (1975), on humanitarian aid to the distressed populations in Cyprus and the reactivation of its economy, and the proposals of the Special Representative, in order to make substantial contributions in the field of medium and long-term aid to Cyprus.