In recognition of the growing importance of migration related issues as an integral part of the external relations of the EU in the framework of a balanced and comprehensive approach to migration and development, the Council adopted a series of Conclusions.

Developing the Global Approach to Migration – a series of priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean, agreed in December 2005, is a fundamental priority for the Union.

The Council also recognises the importance of other migratory routes, in particular the eastern and south eastern regions neighbouring the Union. It also welcomes the outcome of the Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development held in Rabat on 10-11 July 2006, and reaffirms the Council's commitment to a close partnership between Europe and Africa and an effective follow-up.

The Council also notes the existence of migratory routes and the interrelationship between them, and invites further work, including on Eastern Africa migratory routes.

Migratory flows : The Council expresses its concern regarding the increasing illegal migratory flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and underlines the need to address all aspects affecting this serious situation, particularly on the sea borders, through short-, medium-, and long-term concrete measures, including maritime operational cooperation with a view to developing adequate surveillance capacities at the sea borders. It also stresses the importance of effective preparations for the EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development, which Libya has offered to host in Tripoli, as a contribution towards a Joint Strategy and to the second EU/Africa Summit in Lisbon as soon as possible.

Lastly, the Council reiterates the need for a balanced and comprehensive approach on migration and development in its relations with third countries. It welcomes the organisation by the United Nations of the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. It welcomes the Commission’s Communication which provides a useful contribution to the EU position to the High Level dialogue. The EU will participate actively in the High Level dialogue and will present to the UNSG the EU’s position as a contribution to its preparation.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Marie-Arlette CARLOTTI (PES, FR) on development and migration. (Please see the summary of 30/05/2006.) The resolution was adopted by 472 votes in favour to 24 against with 30 abstentions.

The committee adopted the own-initiative report on development and migration drawn up by Marie-Arlette CARLOTTI (PES, FR) ahead of the high-level dialogue on this subject scheduled to be held at the UN in September 2006 . The report, which cited many statistics, said that "the European Union must play a major role to make migration a lever of development". Among its recommendations, it said that the EU should adopt two priority instruments: a specific fund enabling co-development measures to be financed; and a guarantee fund to ensure the long-term existence of migrants' micro-projects and maximise their impact on development. In view of the importance of remittances as a source of external finance for developing countries, the report also called for measures to ease the transfer of migrants' funds, improve their access to financial services, channel their funds towards productive investment in their home countries and ensure the transparency of financial transactions through 'informal channels'.

The committee stressed that the practice of "circular migration" or "commuting" between host countries and countries of origin can be beneficial to both sides. It called for programmes "to involve skilled people in the diasporas in the process of development by covering the costs of wage differentials for highly skilled migrants prepared to return to their countries or by setting up ‘dual post’ systems for public sector personnel in southern countries (teachers, researchers and doctors)". It also welcomed measures proposed by the Commission to combat the brain drain from poorer countries.

Among other issues, the report called for greater emphasis to be placed on the specific role of women in migration and development and on the rights of migrant women. Member States were urged to grant an autonomous status and a work permit to the spouse and children of the principal legal status holder once a request for family reunification is accepted, to protect their rights fully and facilitate their social integration.

Lastly, the Commission and the Council were asked to give "EU priority status" and sufficient funding to the fight against trafficking in human beings linked to migration and "not to criminalise the victims but to focus on punishing the perpetrators".

PURPOSE : to put forward a set of concrete policy orientations that will help maximise the benefits of migration for the development of migrants’ countries of origin.

CONTENT : the Commission believes that the links between migration and development offer a significant potential for furthering development goals, without constituting a substitute to enhanced Official Development Assistance (ODA) and improved policies that remain as necessary as ever to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the agreed timeframe.

This document builds on the December 2002 Communication, which continues to set the framework for integrating migration issues into the EU’s external relations and development policies. As underlined in that Communication and confirmed by the Council Conclusions of May 2003, the integration of migration aspects should respect the overall coherence of EU external policies and actions, and be consistent with the objectives and priorities of the Joint Council/Commission Statement on EC development policy.

Neither does this Communication cover the full spectrum of the 2002 Communication. It focuses on a number of specific topics that are associated primarily with South-North migration, and in particular on possible actions that could be carried out at EU level, in partnership with developing countries of origin.

More specifically, in this communication on migration and development, the Commission aims to link migration and development cooperation with a view to contributing to poverty alleviation in these countries. It sets out a set of policy orientations that will help maximise the benefits of migration for the development of migrants’ countries of origin. Migrants and diaspora members can make an important contribution to their countries of origin through remittances and their skills and expertise – whether by returning permanently, investing or by sharing their expertise with their compatriots back home. The communication proposes concrete orientations for enhancing this contribution. At the same time, it also looks at how to limit the negative effects of brain drain, i.e. the exodus of skilled professionals from the developing world. With this Communication, the Commission hopes to make a first contribution to the global debate on the links between migration and development, in particular in view of the 2006 High Level Dialogue within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly. The policy presented in this Communication, elaborated and implemented in close partnership with source and transit countries and tailored to their needs, will contribute to enhancing the coherence of the external dimension of the EU’s immigration policy with development policy.

Reflecting the main issues in the global debate on migration and development, and in line with the Council Conclusions of May 2003, the Commission has identified concrete orientations for improving the impact of migration on development, with a focus on south-north migration. For each of these areas, an annex provides a brief presentation of the issues at stake and details of the initiatives the Commission is planning or considering and/or contains recommendations to Member States in the latter’s areas of responsibility.

PURPOSE : to put forward a set of concrete policy orientations that will help maximise the benefits of migration for the development of migrants’ countries of origin.

CONTENT : the Commission believes that the links between migration and development offer a significant potential for furthering development goals, without constituting a substitute to enhanced Official Development Assistance (ODA) and improved policies that remain as necessary as ever to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the agreed timeframe.

This document builds on the December 2002 Communication, which continues to set the framework for integrating migration issues into the EU’s external relations and development policies. As underlined in that Communication and confirmed by the Council Conclusions of May 2003, the integration of migration aspects should respect the overall coherence of EU external policies and actions, and be consistent with the objectives and priorities of the Joint Council/Commission Statement on EC development policy.

Neither does this Communication cover the full spectrum of the 2002 Communication. It focuses on a number of specific topics that are associated primarily with South-North migration, and in particular on possible actions that could be carried out at EU level, in partnership with developing countries of origin.

More specifically, in this communication on migration and development, the Commission aims to link migration and development cooperation with a view to contributing to poverty alleviation in these countries. It sets out a set of policy orientations that will help maximise the benefits of migration for the development of migrants’ countries of origin. Migrants and diaspora members can make an important contribution to their countries of origin through remittances and their skills and expertise – whether by returning permanently, investing or by sharing their expertise with their compatriots back home. The communication proposes concrete orientations for enhancing this contribution. At the same time, it also looks at how to limit the negative effects of brain drain, i.e. the exodus of skilled professionals from the developing world. With this Communication, the Commission hopes to make a first contribution to the global debate on the links between migration and development, in particular in view of the 2006 High Level Dialogue within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly. The policy presented in this Communication, elaborated and implemented in close partnership with source and transit countries and tailored to their needs, will contribute to enhancing the coherence of the external dimension of the EU’s immigration policy with development policy.

Reflecting the main issues in the global debate on migration and development, and in line with the Council Conclusions of May 2003, the Commission has identified concrete orientations for improving the impact of migration on development, with a focus on south-north migration. For each of these areas, an annex provides a brief presentation of the issues at stake and details of the initiatives the Commission is planning or considering and/or contains recommendations to Member States in the latter’s areas of responsibility.