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Congress adopted resolution and recommendation on migration

On 28 March 2017 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted, during its 32nd session, Resolution 411 and Recommendation 394 on “From reception to integration: the role of local and regional authorities facing migration”. The Congress analysed the current refugee and migrant influx from the viewpoint of local and regional authorities that face specific challenges due to a steep increase in the number of refugees and migrants coming to Council of Europe member States. In the absence of a clear and concerted response, the crisis of policy has left local and regional governments, which are the first port of call in emergency situations, with limited means and guidance to fulfill their responsibility to provide asylum seekers with access to key public services such as housing, healthcare and education, without any discrimination.

The Congress invited member States to show solidarity, improve their co-operation and co-ordination in putting in place reception policies that ensure respect of human rights for all refugees and migrants, removing administrative and practical barriers encountered by asylum seekers during their application process, developing clear legal frameworks and ensuring financial support for local and regional governments. It called on local and regional authorities to effectively tackle the current refugee situation and adopt an early integration approach taking into account the needs of both migrant and host communities.

Also, the Congress held, in the Chamber of Local Authorities, a debate on the "reception of unaccompanied migrant children in European cities", which highlighted the difficult position mayors find themselves in when they become guardians for unaccompanied minors, whom they must protect and help integrate, the lack of solidarity between countries and the need for increased financial support from member States. The insufficient number of interpreters, the risks related to sexual exploitation and violence, and the saturation of places of reception were among the other problems mentioned. Faced with these challenges, some local authorities took a number of positive local initiatives, which were presented during the debate, such as placing migrant children with families and offering minors training to accompany them into adulthood.

The debate organised by the Chamber of Regions on "Border regions facing migratory flows" revealed the complexity of the migration phenomenon in Europe and its different facets, which is a major issue at national level that influences regional and local policy positions and practices.  The ineffectiveness of the Dublin Regulation and the need for EU funds to become available for regions were mentioned. Good practice examples were given from the work of regions and NGOs and solutions were proposed including cooperation with North African countries.

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