11/09/2008 Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Strasbourg, 11.09.2008 - Speaking today at the Joint Parliamentary Meeting on “Europe: Migration and Integration”, organised by the European Parliament and the French Presidency of the European Union together with the French Senate and National Assembly, Corien Jonker, Chair of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, welcomed the proposed European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and thanked the French Presidency for putting forward this important initiative.
She underlined that good co-operation and exchange of expertise between European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly and with homologue committees of national parliaments was essential in making common migration and integration policies a reality. “Our Assembly shares many of the concerns raised at the European Union level which are also relevant to many of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. I am fully convinced that PACE and the European Parliament can build on each others’ strengths”.
Commenting on the common immigration and asylum policies, Mrs Jonker said, “The time is ripe for putting forward major steps in the field of migration and asylum. However, these steps can only be taken if we are all ready to demonstrate real solidarity. Countries of Southern Europe are facing an immense challenge concerning the influx of irregular migrants from Europe’s Southern shores, and they should not be left alone. Europe must be prepared to act as a whole as regards burden sharing, but also work with the countries of origin on prevention and readmission measures. At the same time Europe must invest more in working out harmonised criteria and level of protection of human dignity and fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers.”
“Next to that, solidarity with third countries needs to involve an improved ethic recruitment policy and extended regional protection programmes”, she added.
During the conference Jonker also raised specific attention for the reports the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population recently adopted or has prepared, such as the report on the issue of "Europe's Boat People" examining the large scale arrival of irregular migrants and asylum seekers in Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece and also Turkey. This report will be debated in the Assembly later this year.