Reply to the 17th report on the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 5 October 1971 (9th Sitting) (see Doc. 3008,see Doc. 3008, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 5 October 1971 (9th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Having noted the 17th report on the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) (
Doc. 2961) and the report by its Committee on Population and Refugees in reply thereto (
Doc. 3008) ;
2. Observing that migration rates, which had increased considerably in 1968, rose still further in 1969 and levelled off in 1970 to about 80,000 persons moved and resettled in overseas countries ;
3. Noting that ICEM moved and resettled 1,776,000 persons between its creation in December 1951 and the end of 1970 ;
4. Believing that it has accomplished a great humanitarian and altruistic task over twenty years by helping to resettle nearly 880,000 refugees who have found new homelands and new jobs and made new homes for themselves ;
5. Considering that the work of ICEM has been in keeping with a variety of initiatives taken by the Council of Europe Assembly, especially as regards the resettlement overseas of many European refugees and migrants, including national refugees (
Recommendation 462 (1966) and
Resolution 342 (1967)), and as regards the economic development of Latin America by encouraging the emigration to that continent of skilled technicians and experts (Resolutions 390 (1968) and 419 (1969)),
6. Congratulates ICEM, whose twentieth anniversary will be celebrated this year, on the work it has accomplished ;
7. Invites those European governments which are Members of ICEM - most of which are Members of the Council of Europe - to step up their political, financial and moral support to that organisation, in order that it may continue and further intensify its highly humanitarian work which, by reason of its development aid programme, is also of considerable economic significance ;
8. Invites its members to intervene wherever possible in their national parliaments and with their governments in order to sustain, encourage and further the activities of ICEM in its future work.
