Lord Michael German (United Kingdom, ALDE), PACE General Rapporteur on European Migration and Asylum Policies, ending a series of meetings with officials from other international organisations dealing with migration, has urged European lawmakers to uphold international law in migration policy, pointing out that it is “not optional”.
He held a series of wide-ranging discussions in Paris this week with officials from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which focused on the growing pressures facing European migration systems and the role of international law in shaping effective and humane responses.
“Migration has been with us for centuries and is not, in itself, a problem, provided it is well managed. That means integrating those who contribute to our economies, providing sanctuary to refugees, and return of those who do not have the right to remain,” said Lord German following the talks.
He warned that debates about migration must not undermine the international legal order. “Respect for international law, including the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), is not optional. These agreements form the backbone of the rule of law in Europe, and safeguarding them is one of the core values of the Council of Europe. Policies can and will change, but they must evolve in ways that strengthen, rather than weaken, the legal foundations protecting democracy and human rights across our continent,” he said.
The discussions come amid growing political debate across Europe concerning the role of the ECHR in migration policy. Lord German urged politicians not to blame international law for national political challenges.
“I call on my fellow legislators across Europe to assess any migration policy changes in accordance with the legal norms we have already agreed between us. International law must not become a scapegoat for domestic pressures. Instead, governments can and should reflect on how national legislation and policy choices shape migration. But international law and migration policy can – and must – go hand in hand.”