01/10/2025 Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“Migration has long been a cornerstone of development and progress,” Arthur Erken, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told the Assembly’s Migration Committee during an exchange of views on the margins of the Assembly’s autumn session. “As we face global challenges like climate change and demographic shifts, it must remain key to achieving sustainable development.”
He underlined that the IOM supports countries in addressing two interconnected challenges: preventing irregular migration while promoting safe, orderly and regular migration. Migration, he noted, is a dynamic phenomenon often misrepresented in public discourse. Although irregular arrivals are often discussed, in fact they only account for a small portion of total migration to Europe. The vast majority of migrants come through regular pathways, contributing to Europe’s economies and societies, and driving innovation. Expanding and facilitating such channels is therefore essential to meet current and future labour market needs and to help Council of Europe member states adapt to demographic decline, he pointed out.
Mr Erken urged parliamentarians to strengthen well-managed regular migration, in line with the pledges made in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. He made five key recommendations on how to go about this: build a legal framework and policy based on evidence-based decisions, foster inclusive dialogue and partnerships, protect migrant rights, invest in integration, and enhance co-operation against trafficking and smuggling.
The Regional Director’s participation in the committee meeting marked the beginning of closer co-operation between the IOM and PACE.