[22-23/10/09 - Urgup (Turkey] At the invitation of the Turkish authorities, the Consultative Committee of the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers held its 14th meeting in Urgup, Capadocia.

The Committee met for the first time after the accession of three new parties to the Convention: Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. The Committee held a hearing on the situation of migrant workers in the new Parties and in Georgia which is interested to co-operate on some aspects covered by convention. Particular attention was paid to the impact of the global economic crisis on the situation of migrant workers.

The Committee decided to reintroduce a regular monitoring system and invited states parties to submit national reports covering the application of all provisions of the Convention. It decided to review the situation of migrant workers in one year.

The European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers signed on 24 November 1977 and entered into force on 1 May 1983 supplements the protection provided by the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Social Charter by establishing minimum protection standards for migrant workers. It has been ratified by Albania, France, Italy, Moldova, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. Four other member states: Belgium, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg, have signed it.

[23/06/09 - Strasbourg] The European Committee on Migration (CDMG) is officially launching the recent publication of the report on “Economic migration, social cohesion and development: towards an integrated approach”. The report contains a comprehensive overview about migration in Europe, its impact, benefits, scale and costs, and how to govern it to the benefit of home and host countries launched by the Council of Europe.

It seeks to inform and persuade governments of the Council of Europe member states to put in place effective legislation, policies, institutions and practical measures to regulate migration and ensure rights protection and social cohesion at the national level (more).

(For Council of Europe online bookshop, see)

[20/06/09 - Strasbourg] - The City of Strasbourg has taken the initiative to create the CCRE to allow foreign residents, especially those who are not nationals of countries of the European Union  to take part in the affairs of the City. The Council of Europe fully supports this initiative.

CCRE, composed, with due respect to gender, of nationals of European countries such as Moldova, Russia, Turkey or Ukraine, but also inhabitants of Strasbourg from Africa, America or Asia, will be invited to express opinions, formulate proposals and make its voice to be heard on all municipal policies in Strasbourg, seat of the Council of Europe.

Life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors

[4-5/06/09 - Rome] More than twenty experts from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom attended a workshop, organised in Rome at the invitation of the Italian authorities, devoted to the implementation by national authorities of life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors (more).

The Council of Europe’s concept of life projects is set out in the Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)9 to member states on life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors. Life projects aim to develop the capacities of minors allowing them to acquire and strengthen the skills necessary to become independent, responsible and active in society. They are individual tools, based on a joint undertaking between the unaccompanied migrant minor and the competent authorities for a limited duration. Life projects are a lasting solution for both member states and the minors themselves, meeting the challenges arising out of the migration of unaccompanied minors (more).

[16/04/09 09:30] “Although efforts have been undertaken, serious concerns remain about the situation of Roma, migration policy and practice, and the non-respect of binding interim measures requested by the European Court of Human Rights” said today Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, presenting his report on Italy. “The authorities should condemn more firmly all racist or intolerant manifestations and ensure effective implementation of anti-discrimination legislation”, he said He also recommends that the representation of ethnic groups in the police should be increased and that an independent national human rights institution, such as an Ombudsman, should be established in order to reinforce human rights protection (more).

Read the report

[09/04/09 17:00] On the occasion of the International Roma Day, on 8 April, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities released a study on recent migration of Roma in Europe. The study provides an analysis of the existing human rights standards concerning migration in Europe and highlights discriminatory practices that Roma migrants still face. The study concludes with a set of recommendations for action by states in order to enhance effective protection of the human rights of Roma migrants in Europe.

Read the study on recent migration of Roma in Europe

Brussels seminar on policies and practices concerning elderly migrants

[2-3/03/09 - Brussels] The seminar, organised by the the Council of Europe and the authorities of the French Community of Belgium, the Walloon Region and the French Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region, reviewed the situation of elderly migrants in the member states. It identified, in particular, the specific needs of these migrants and the challenges they face and made recommendations to preserve the dignity of elderly migrants and their autonomy (more).

"Vieillesse & Migration" - the Belgian journal l'Observatoire published in its last issue the contributions made by French-speakers at the seminar. (more - only in French).

[04/02/09 09:30] “The situation of asylum seekers in Greece is critical. The authorities must urgently improve the asylum system, guaranteeing the full respect of international human rights standards. The problems in Greece also call for further efforts to coordinate European policies on mixed migration.” Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, presented today his report on a visit to Greece carried out from 8 to 10 December 2008. (more...)

Read the report

Council of Europe, Palais de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Tel. (+33) 3.88.41.20.00 - Fax. (+33) 3.88.41.27.31

Secretariat (more)

Calendar

Meetings of CDMG and its Bureau

	70th Bureau meeting, Strasbourg, 28-29 September 2009
	58th CDMG meeting, Strasbourg, February 2010
Conferences & other events
8th Council of Europe Conference of ministers responsible for migration affairs, 4-5 September 2008, Kyiv, Ukraine Final declaration Proceedings of the Conference

19-20.02.2009: French Red Cross Seminar on Migration  'Unaccompanied Minors and Forced Returns' (more ...)

Other migration site

Recent publications....

Trafficking in Human Beings