03/07/2025 Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
According to the Migration Committee, which met on 24 June in Strasbourg, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in migration management must balance efficiency gains with protection of human rights “at all stages of the migration journey”. In adopting the report by Petri Honkonen (Finland, ALDE), the committee proposed a set of measures for the regulation and control of AI tools and systems in order to establish “safeguards against bias, human oversight and ensuring the dignity of migrants”, at the pre-departure stage, during the transit stage, at the arrival stage, during the stay period, for circular migration and return stages, and in the context of sustainable reintegration.
The adopted report underlines that AI systems are increasingly used in “border surveillance, visa processing, biometric identification, translation, and integration support”.
However, the committee believes that states should harness the potential of AI “to foster a more inclusive, secure and humane migration system”, emphasising that all AI tools must be transparent, accountable, subject to oversight and in alignment with international instruments.
The committee also considers that the use of AI in migration, asylum and border control management must not allow for the bypassing of international obligations, in particular under the Refugee Convention.
Nor should AI be used to infringe on the principle of non-refoulement, or to deny safe and legal avenues into States’ territory, according to the parliamentarians.
Finally, the committee called on member states to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which aims to ensure the development of AI in line with human rights standards.
The report is due to be debated during the PACE Autumn Session (29 September – 3 October).