Appendix – Opinion by the European Committee
on Migration (CDMG)
1. The CDMG welcomes
the interest of the Parliamentary Assembly to the issue of migration
and mobility in the Eurasian region and fully shares the view that
regional and bilateral co-operation in Eastern Europe should be
strengthened.
2. Migration has recently grown into an important and highly
debated issue for Eastern European countries, most of which are
simultaneously countries of origin, transit and destination. An
important phenomenon is also the regional cross-border migration
which involves many people engaged in seasonal work or small trade.
It has been repeatedly noted that many Eastern European countries
were not always prepared for the challenges of migration. They often
lacked coherent and well-developed migration management and integration
policies as well as an effectively working information exchange
mechanism (between different agencies within these countries and
with other states).
3. The 8th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible
for Migration Affairs that took place in Kyiv (Ukraine) on 4 and
5 September 2008 drew attention to the migration challenges faced
by Eastern European countries and to the specific nature of migration
flows in that region. The CDMG also took into account the priorities
of the countries of region in the course of preparing its projects
for 2009-2012 and identified by them in the course of a series of
meetings in the region. Many activities that will be implemented as
parts of these projects will directly address the challenges faced
by Eastern European countries.
4. In particular, the CDMG considers that providing assistance
to these countries in developing and implementing effective migration
policies capable of addressing the new emerging migration challenges
is among its most important tasks. Moreover, this task reflects
the decision of the 8th Ministerial Conference to devise an integrated
approach to migration, development and social cohesion and assist
member states in its implementation.
5. Indeed, the CDMG intends to undertake various activities to
accomplish this in 2009-2012. Among these are the work aimed at
strengthening the role of employment services in the management
of short-term migration and the protection of migrants’ rights,
activities dedicated to enhancing contribution of migrants to the development
of their countries of origin and facilitating the return of those
migrants who decided to do so, and development of mechanism to facilitate
regular exchange of information both within and between the countries of
Eastern Europe.
6. As a part of the Council of Europe Social Cohesion Programme
for Ukraine (2008-2011), the CDMG will provide assistance to the
Ukrainian authorities in developing an integrated approach to migration
management and translating it into practical policy instruments
(including measures to protect the rights of migrants, refugees and
asylum-seekers, to establish an effective system to combat irregular
migration, to design a comprehensive integration policy and to offer
a viable reintegration mechanisms to returning migrants).
7. The CDMG also regards very seriously the issue of integration
of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and intends to address in
it in the framework of the implementation of the project “Protecting
the human rights and dignity of vulnerable migrants”. In the context
of post-conflict settlement in Georgia, the CDMG believes that it
is important to offer assistance to the authorities of Georgia in
their efforts to facilitate local integration of people who fled
the zone of conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and is prepared
to provide such assistance.
8. Finally, the CDMG will continue to promote the implementation
of the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers
(ETS No. 93), which now has 11 signatures with Moldova and Ukraine
recently joining the Convention. The CDMG regards the convention
an important international legal tool to protect the rights of migrant
workers and intends to encourage its use by the member states. In
particular, it is hoped that the Consultative Committee will be
able to resume its work in 2009.
