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The role of diasporas and migrants in developing social cohesion and democratic engagement

Doc. 16476: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16476 | 28/09/2026 | Provisional version

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Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Amendment 3

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ADraft Resolution

1Diasporas are inherent, valuable parts of European societies. When properly supported, empowered and integrated, diasporas actively contribute to economic development, help build more cohesive societies and foster democratic engagement. They also play a crucial role in the integration of newly arrived migrants, acting as bridge-builders between communities, institutions and countries.
2The Parliamentary Assembly has consistently reaffirmed the importance of addressing diaspora issues, most notably in Resolution 2388 (2021) “For a European policy on diasporas”, which called for the development and implementation of comprehensive diaspora engagement policies across Europe. This is a commitment which must be refreshed regularly in order to focus on the needs of rising generations.
3In particular, young people within diaspora communities are particularly well placed to contribute to social cohesion and democratic engagement. As multilingual, multicultural Europeans, young diaspora members have a great potential for innovation, renewal of democratic life and inter-cultural mediation.
4The Assembly also highlights the importance of organised diaspora groups, including faith-based communities. These communities, often extending their reach beyond their spiritual and religious activities, function as multidimensional hubs providing language courses, social services, legal guidance and psychosocial care while fostering networks of trust, solidarity and belonging for newly arrived migrants and established communities alike.
5Diaspora members often face structural obstacles that hamper their full contribution to their host societies.
6The Assembly recognises that the development of the full potential of diasporas requires their proper integration as active partners in society. Integration must be understood as a reciprocal and structural process requiring both openness and active participation from local communities and diasporic groups.

28 September 2026

Tabled by Ms Lesia ZABURANNA, Mr Taras BATENKO, Mr Dominik OBERHOFER, Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Serhii KALCHENKO, Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ms Tamila TASHEVA, Ms Manuela PERTEGHELLA, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 6, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly notes that not all diasporas are the product of voluntary migration. The Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine has produced the largest forced displacement in Europe since the Second World War: more than five million Ukrainians now live in Council of Europe member States, most of them under temporary protection. Other examples of diasporas shaped by forced displacement include those of Bosnians and Herzegovinians, Syrians and Kosovars, whose communities have been shaped by conflict, persecution or mass displacement. Diasporas formed by forced displacement have specific needs, notably the preservation of their cultural, educational and social ties with their homeland and the possibility of returning to it, and they have shown how a diaspora can sustain solidarity between its host societies and its country of origin."

7The Assembly commends the Council of Europe and its member States for the plethora of State-led programmes and policies that have been established throughout Europe to support and integrate diaspora communities, particularly the good practices developed through the Intercultural Cities Programme. The Assembly stresses the distinct advantage for all such programmes and policies to be co-created and co-owned with the communities who are meant to benefit from them. This means engaging both local communities and diaspora representatives in the design, implementation and evaluation of such initiatives not only as beneficiaries, but also as partners.
8The Assembly recalls the need, as stated in the Reykjavik Declaration, adopted at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (16-17 May 2023), to ensure a full, equal and meaningful participation in political and public life for all without discrimination. This should include diasporas. It also welcomes the Secretary General’s initiative for a New Democratic Pact for Europe. This recognises the need to protect democracy by advancing equality, combating all forms of discrimination and ensuring the full participation and representation of marginalised groups, including diasporic groups, in democratic life. The future and legitimacy of European democracy depend on involving everyone, including diasporas and migrants, in democratic processes. In that regard, a special effort is needed to bridge the gap between elected representatives and diaspora members.
9Stressing the importance of meaningfully involving diasporas in policy making affecting them, and recalling Resolution 2388 (2021), the Assembly invites member States of the Council of Europe to:
9.1systematically consult diaspora groups in the planning and development of programmes and policies which concern them and ensure that their contributions are not only heard, but acted upon;
9.2involve diaspora members and organisations in the implementation of such programmes and policies not only as beneficiaries, but also as equal partners;
9.3ensure that the perspectives of diaspora groups are heard and acted upon in the monitoring and evaluation of such programmes and policies.
10Without prejudice to the restrictions on political rights for foreigners permitted under the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), and taking into account Resolution 2525 (2024) “The theme of migration and asylum in election campaigns and its consequences on the reception of migrants and their rights”, the Assembly believes that it is crucial to promote the political participation of diaspora members (including their formal participation) in order to preserve European democratic representativity and legitimacy. To this end, the Assembly invites member States to:
10.1ratify, if they have not already done so, the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at the Local Level (ETS No. 144) and align national electoral legislation accordingly;
10.2promote the political participation of diaspora members and empower those eligible to vote and stand for election;
10.3explore the feasibility of expanding the right of certain categories of diaspora members to vote and to stand for office in national elections.
11Recognising that political engagement goes beyond standing for office and voting in elections, the Assembly believes that it is necessary to engage diasporas in decision making through other participative and deliberative mechanisms so that they can fully participate in public life. The Assembly therefore recommends that member States:
11.1provide civic education and democratic literacy training to diaspora members as part of integration policies and programmes;
11.2develop mentorship programmes linking young people, including diaspora members, with elected representatives in order to bring diaspora youth closer to politics and to allow elected officials to understand and take into account their perspective;
11.3promote properly funded and representative foreigners’ consultative councils at both local and national levels, with the purpose of establishing a structured dialogue between authorities and diaspora groups;
11.4provide stable, structural funding to diaspora-based organisations so that they can meaningfully engage in long-term policy-making processes.

28 September 2026

Tabled by Ms Lesia ZABURANNA, Mr Taras BATENKO, Mr Dominik OBERHOFER, Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Serhii KALCHENKO, Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ms Tamila TASHEVA, Ms Manuela PERTEGHELLA, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 11.4, insert the following paragraph:

"protect diaspora members from transnational repression and from foreign information manipulation and interference by the authorities of third States, in particular the Russian Federation and Belarus, which seek to silence dissent, divide communities and instrumentalise diasporas against the host State."

28 September 2026

Tabled by Ms Lesia ZABURANNA, Mr Taras BATENKO, Mr Dominik OBERHOFER, Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Serhii KALCHENKO, Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ms Tamila TASHEVA, Ms Manuela PERTEGHELLA, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 11.4, insert the following paragraph:

"in cases of forced displacement, support diaspora members, including persons under temporary protection, in preserving their cultural, educational and social ties with their homeland, in particular through mother-tongue education for children, community and cultural centres such as the Ukrainian Unity Hubs, and, in co-operation with the country of origin, develop programmes supporting voluntary return and reintegration into their home societies for those who wish to return."

12The Assembly should spearhead the efforts of the Council of Europe to support the existing work of the Advisory Council on Youth on this matter. Given the potential of diaspora representatives to enrich political debate and inform decision making in matters affecting them, the Assembly should consider:
12.1conducting at least one exchange of views at committee or sub-committee or network level with representatives of migrant or diaspora groups in the preparation of each report concerning their integration or their political, social and cultural rights;
12.2developing a mentorship programme linking young diaspora members with Assembly members in order to bring the Assembly closer to young diaspora members and to get Assembly members in touch with their perspective.
13Finally, the Assembly calls on its own members, in their capacity as both national lawmakers and members of the Assembly, to act at European and domestic levels to promote the relevant Council of Europe instruments, standards and expertise, as well as to align national legislation and practice with the recommendations set out in this resolution.