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Migration and Europe’s colonial past: towards historical justice and democratic resilience

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16407 | 18 May 2026

Signatories:
Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Mehmet AKALIN, Türkiye, ALDE ; Mr Abdurrahman BABACAN, Türkiye, NR ; Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Sascha FAXE, Denmark, SOC ; Ms Irena FERČIKOVÁ KONEČNÁ, Czechia, SOC ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Mr Bekim KJOKU, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr George PAPANDREOU, Greece, SOC ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Filiz POLAT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Namık TAN, Türkiye, SOC ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC

Addressing the historical dimension of migration during the period of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, as well as their lasting consequences, is essential to tackling structural inequalities, racism and democratic fragility, both within Europe and globally.

The Parliamentary Assembly should promptly and effectively contribute to integrating this perspective into ongoing European efforts, in particular into discussions on current migration policies and within the framework of the New Democratic Pact, human rights and democratic resilience within the Council of Europe and beyond.

An array of measures could contribute to this end, namely:

  • outlining Europe’s historical responsibility for colonialism, in particular transatlantic slavery and the slave trade, while also taking into account interconnected colonial systems in Africa, the Indian Ocean and Asia, as well as their lasting impacts on democracy, human rights and global inequalities;
  • analysing how these legacies continue to shape current challenges, including migration, structural racism and socio-economic disparities;
  • identifying and analysing migration flows from former European colonies to Council of Europe member States, and formulating recommendations for practical and legal measures aimed at redressing historical injustices;
  • examining the role of diasporas from former colonies, as well as the protection of their human rights, in the development of member States;
  • investigating the relevance of international standards, in particular the United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation;
  • exploring the application of the framework of “acknowledgement, responsibility and remedy” in a European policy context;
  • assessing ongoing initiatives at the European and international levels, including co-operation with the African Union and proposals for reparative approaches;
  • identifying policy options through which member States and European institutions can address colonial legacies in a forward-looking manner and strengthen democratic resilience and human rights protection.