Refugees from the former Portuguese colonies in Africa
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 7 May 1976 (7th Sitting) (see Doc. 3782, report of the Committee on European Non-Member Countries and Amendment No. 1). Text adopted by the Assembly on 7 May 1976 (7th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering the situation created in Portugal by the influx of more than 600 000 persons repatriated from the former colonies, especially Angola and Mozambique ;
2. Gravely concerned at the lack of effective accommodation for a number of repatriates, a situation which if it is not remedied will lead to the most severe hardship next winter ;
3. Believing that, in view of the general employment situation in Portugal, it would be difficult for the country's economy to absorb large numbers of repatriates ;
4. Warmly appreciating the efforts made by the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration to assist in alleviating the situation, in particular by means of its plans to finance the emigration of 12 000 persons to America ;
5. Being aware, as a result of the enquiries and studies made by experts from OECD, ICEM and the Council of Europe, that the Portuguese authorities are relying on substantial emigration by repatriates and others in order to reduce the pressure of unemployment ;
6. Believing that a liberal policy with respect to the admission of emigrants from Portugal would be a proper expression of the spirit of European solidarity,
7. Urges the European governments :
to make every effort to ensure that adequate shelter for those repatriates who are still without durable accommodation is supplied to Portugal and installed before the coming winter ;
to investigate the possibility of accepting a number of Portuguese repatriates or of helping to finance their emigration to other continents prepared to receive them.
