On 21-24 June 2021, during its summer part-Session, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held a current affairs debate on “The need for an effective solidarity mechanism between European countries to relieve migratory pressure on front line countries”, with the participation of Panagiotis Mitarachis, Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece.
On 22-23 June 2021, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons debated reports under preparation, such as “Pushbacks on land and sea: illegal measures of migration management, Rapporteur: Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez, Switzerland, SOC, “Safe third countries for asylum seekers” Rapporteur: Ms Stephanie Krisper, Austria, ALDE. The Committee also held an exchange of views with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, Mr Drahoslav Stefanek. The Special Representative presented the new Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) and briefed the Committee on his latest activities.
On 18 June 2021, on the eve of World Refugee Day and the 70th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, a European web-conference was hosted by the UK Parliament. The findings of the meeting will flow into the PACE report on “Voluntary relocations of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in need of humanitarian protection” being prepared by Lord Dundee (United Kingdom, EC/DA).
In a “call to action” issued after the meeting, Lord Dundee, Vice-Chair of the PACE Sub-Committee on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings, and his fellow peer Lord Dubs, Vice-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, said: “We cannot continue to let thousands of children, women and men perish each year trying to reach safety or in search of a better life.” The web conference brought together representatives of governments, national parliaments, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations. The Council of Europe and OSCE member states are being urged to abide by their international obligations towards refugees, and to “lead by example” in displaying greater solidarity towards persons fleeing armed conflicts, violence or persecution. The call for action also urged prompt asylum decisions, alternatives so that those who cannot be returned to their home country “do not languish for years in return centres”, an end to pushbacks, special attention for vulnerable categories of migrants, and greater efforts to dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks.
On 22 June 2021, in the margins of the summer session, Mr Paulo Pisco (Portugal, SOC), PACE Rapporteur on “For a European policy on diasporas” intervened in the panel on Voting matters: diaspora parliamentary representation at a forum organised by the first EU-funded project EU Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF) in cooperation with Parliamentary Network on Diaspora Policy.
On 24 June 2021, the Parliamentary Assembly held a debate on Mr Pisco’s report with the participation of the Director General of IOM, Mr Antonio Vitorino. The report calls on the Council of Europe to take on board diaspora issues and facilitate the development of diaspora related policies and strategies by governments. The Council of Europe can encourage democratic participation of diasporas through the schools of political studies, local and regional cooperation and support of youth diasporas.