The role of diasporas and migrants in developing social cohesion and democratic engagement
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 29 September 2026 (31st sitting) (see Doc. 16476, report
of the Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic
Co-operation, rapporteur: Lord Leslie Griffiths). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 29 September 2026 (31st sitting).Provisional
version subject to editorial review.
1. Diasporas
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.
2. The 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.
3. In 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.
4. The 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.
5. Diaspora members often face structural obstacles that hamper
their full contribution to their host societies.
6. The 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.
7. The 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.
8. The 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.
9. Stressing 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:
9.1 systematically 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;
9.2 involve diaspora members and organisations in the implementation
of such programmes and policies not only as beneficiaries, but also
as equal partners;
9.3 ensure that the perspectives of diaspora groups are heard
and acted upon in the monitoring and evaluation of such programmes
and policies.
10. Without 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:
10.1 ratify, 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;
10.2 promote the political participation of diaspora members
and empower those eligible to vote and stand for election;
10.3 explore the feasibility of expanding the right of certain
categories of diaspora members to vote and to stand for office in
national elections.
11. Recognising 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:
11.1 provide civic
education and democratic literacy training to diaspora members as
part of integration policies and programmes;
11.2 develop 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;
11.3 promote 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;
11.4 provide stable, structural funding to diaspora-based organisations
so that they can meaningfully engage in long-term policy-making
processes.
12. The 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:
12.1 conducting 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;
12.2 developing 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.
13. Finally, 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.
