C Explanatory memorandum, by Mr Ducarme
1. The Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and
Local and Regional Affairs, while supporting the recommendations
made by the rapporteur, wishes to point out that citizens’ security
must remain central to the concerns of our governments and legislatures.
2. The committee wishes to point out in this context that, at
the 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Warsaw
on 16 May 2005, member states reiterated their wish to take all
necessary measures to ensure security for their citizens in full
respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
3. The committee nevertheless notes that insufficient account
is taken of these issues by governments, and that there is still
no synergy between the authorities, at both national and local levels,
and citizens. In practice, as the rapporteur very rightly says,
it is important to rebuild the link between the state and its citizens.
4. In this context, and in order to strengthen this link, rather
more account needs to be taken of the opinions, even if they are
sometimes divergent, of the voluntary sector and, to a certain extent,
of the media. These opinions may in fact make citizens’ desires
and frustrations clearer to legislatures, thereby helping the public authorities
to reduce the existing malaise, especially in housing estates and
sensitive areas.
5. In this context, the committee once again emphasises the importance
of starting and/or strengthening intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
6. It also proposes amending the text of the draft recommendation,
asking the public authorities to take measures to introduce policies
for the integration of immigrants. It considers in fact that true
integration policies will be far more effective than mere training
programmes.
7. The committee also wishes to emphasise, as the rapporteur
very rightly does, the need to begin a social dialogue, particularly
with immigrant populations. This is all the more necessary for the
fact that, in most of our member states, racial tensions are high.
In the face of such tensions, the committee considers that support must
be given to the setting up of a European resource centre for urban
security, as advocated by the Congress in Recommendation 197 (2006).
8. Finally, the committee points to the need for the public authorities
to take all necessary measures to improve the urban environment,
in the knowledge that a poor, or even unhealthy, environment can
but increase urban insecurity.
***
Reporting committee: Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee
(Doc. 11685).
Committee for opinion: Committee on the Environment, Agriculture
and Local and Regional Affairs.
Reference to committee: Reference No. 3166 of 23 January 2006.
Opinion adopted by the committee on 2 October 2008.
