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The Parliamentary Assembly has to play an active role in the process launched by the Secretary General concerning migration, human rights and security

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16391 | 22 April 2026

Signatories:
Mr Damien COTTIER, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Mehmet AKALIN, Türkiye, ALDE ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Roland Rino BÜCHEL, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Ms Irena FERČIKOVÁ KONEČNÁ, Czechia, SOC ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Mia KARAMEHIĆ-ABAZOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALDE ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Marijana PULJAK, Croatia, ALDE ; Ms Elena-Simona SPĂTARU, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Nicos TORNARITIS, Cyprus, EPP/CD ; Ms Lesia ZABURANNA, Ukraine, ALDE

The Convention and the European Court of Human Rights form the cornerstone of the European system for the protection of fundamental rights.

The current challenges linked to irregular migration, the exploitation of migration flows, migrant smuggling and security imperatives are placing pressure on and within member States, which has led them to engage in a political dialogue on these issues within the institutional framework of the Council of Europe.

The informal Ministerial Conference held in Strasbourg on 10 December 2025, at the initiative of the Secretary General, launched a political process aimed at better reconciling the effective protection of human rights, migration management and public security.

The Ministers reaffirmed on this occasion their commitment to the Convention, to the independence of the Court and to the binding nature of its judgments, whilst recognising the need to preserve a system that is effective, balanced and sustainable.

This process provides an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the Convention system and the principle of subsidiarity, and to discuss the challenges of migration, particularly irregular migration, in member States.

In view of the above, the Parliamentary Assembly should:

  • become actively involved in this process and ensure adequate follow-up, in particular through its relevant committees;
  • invite the Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers to involve the Assembly in the preparation and follow-up of such a political declaration;
  • pay particular attention to the consequences of the process for the Convention system;
  • contribute to this discussion by putting forward its own recommendations;
  • consider strengthening exchanges between the Assembly and the Court on a long-term basis, whilst fully respecting the Court’s independence, for example by establishing an institutionalised dialogue.