15/12/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
“Migration routes have become increasingly dangerous, not only because of smuggling networks abusing migrants with often no safe and legal alternative to migrate accessible to them, but also because of pushbacks which have unfortunately become tolerated policies in a number of Council of Europe’s...
15/12/2023 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“We politicians have a duty to take action, to support the children of Ukraine and their future, in host countries and within Ukraine. And we also have a duty to make every possible effort to help the return of deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children,” PACE President Tiny Kox said at...
08/12/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
Precarious and irregular work situations of migrant workers have increased over the years. Their vulnerability is aggravated by cumulative factors, especially by the limited nature of seasonal work contracts, linguistic barriers, or the lengthy and cumbersome procedures for obtaining work permits...
08/12/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The report presented by Stephanie Krisper (Austria, ALDE) to the Migration Committee, meeting in Paris, highlighted that the basic needs of a high number of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in the areas of Calais and Dunkirk (France), were not met. It mentions in particular insufficient...
10/11/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
PACE rapporteur Paul Galles (Luxembourg, EPP/CD) on “Addressing the specific challenges faced by the Belarusians in exile” today urged that, amidst the tragedies happening around the planet, the fight for a democratic and free Belarus must remain high on the agenda. In this context, he welcomed...
03/11/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
PACE Rapporteur Birgir Thórarinsson (Iceland, EPP/CD) today urged member States to step up external action in support to Afghan refugees and to first reception countries as recommended in Resolution 2522 (2023). He recalled the Assembly’s unanimous decision that “deportations to Afghanistan are...
17/10/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
On the eve of European Anti-trafficking Day (18 October), Theodoros Rousopoulos (Greece, EPP/CD), Chairperson of PACE’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons made the following statement: “As we mark the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention...
10/10/2023 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to create a “recurring contact platform” for dialogue with representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values, fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s war of aggression...
09/10/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons today made the following declaration: Between 15 and 17 September 2023, approximately 8,500 migrants landed on Lampedusa. Most European countries stated their refusal to honour their shared responsibility to receive these people, with the...
06/10/2023 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Representatives of Russian democratic opposition forces who share Council of Europe values will continue their ongoing dialogue with leaders and members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during a live-streamed hearing of three of its committees, taking place on Tuesday...
21/09/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The Migration Committee, meeting today in Reykjavik, expressed its concern at the increasing instrumentalisation of the theme of migration and asylum in election campaigns, often reduced to security matters. A partial and biased treatment of this theme legitimises political programmes aimed at...
20/09/2023 | Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons strongly condemned the systematic persecution of women and girls decided on by the Taliban. They called on member States to respect UNHCR’s non-return advisory applying to Afghanistan, but also to Iran and Pakistan, which host more than...