On 18 December 2021, Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, made a statement on the occasion of International Migrants Day. “We can celebrate the creation of the International Organisation for Migration 70 years ago, as well as the 31st anniversary of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,” he said. Mr Fridez underlined that the International Labour Organisation estimates that there are 169 million international migrant workers in the world, of which about 32 per cent work in Europe. When the number of international migrants dropped by a third during the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, many states appreciated the enormous contribution of migrant workers to daily life and the economy. “Europe must remain committed to open and regular channels for migrant workers, and to protecting labour standards and human rights. The European Social Charter and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings are cornerstones in this regard. National parliaments must ensure that migration is a normal part of the functioning of society, for the benefit of all,” Mr Fridez.