Armand De Decker, Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation, held a round table discussion with Diaspora members, 13 July 2006, Brussels
8/4/2006 8:05:04 PM

Fully aware of the correlation that exists between the ‘qualitative’ dimension of Diaspora’s integration in host countries and their contribution to their home countries, as well as the necessity for governments to move towards better policy coherence in the field of migration and development, the Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation, Armand De Decker, invited members of Belgium-based Diaspora communities to join a round table discussion that was held on 13 July 2006, at the Palais d'Egmont, Brussels. The objective of the meeting was two-fold: (i) informing the Diasporas on the position of the Belgian government on the theme of 'migration and development' and its past and future project initiatives in this field; and (ii) giving an opportunity to Diaspora members to interact and exchange views with the Minister on issues relating to migration and development. The meeting was well attended, counting nearly 80 representatives of various Diaspora communities and delegations from several key partner institutions, such as the European Commission, the World Bank and IOM. Starting his presentation by highlighting the growing international attention paid to the migration and development nexus in the past years, the Minister gave a brief review of Belgian concrete initiatives in support of migration and development, such as the IOM-implemented MIDA Great Lakes (MIDA GL) programme aiming at mobilizing Diaspora skills and resources for the benefit of the Great Lakes countries’ development and the ‘Migr’action’ programme providing financial grants to migrant-run development projects. As a follow up and complementary strategy to these current initiatives - some of them coming to an end - Minister De Decker also presented several project options that could see light in the near future, among which: (i) a possible extension of the MIDA GL programme into a ‘MIDMA’ programme covering the Northern part of Morocco, (ii) the set up of a ‘European Transfer and Development Fund’ replicating the Mexican ‘tres por uno’ system, functioning on a voluntarily basis and aimed at financing micro-development projects or (iii) the set up of twining training programmes between Belgian and third country hospitals involving the participation of Diaspora medical experts. Subsequent to the Minister’s intervention, concerns were raised by several participants which touched upon issues ranging from insecurity and political instability in countries of origin as major obstacles for returning home, the guarantee of safeguarding social benefits in the framework of co-development programmes, to insufficient and inadequate consultation with Diasporas on migration-related issues. The roundtable discussion was concluded by the Minister who asserted his commitment to consider the set up of a so-called ‘Consultative Diaspora Council’ which would facilitate a constructive exchange and dialogue with Diaspora representatives on migration issues. Additionally and in response to the criticism made by several of the participants concerning the poorly accessible information on the Belgian government’s initiatives in the field of migration and development, Minister De Decker also committed to develop various public outreach devices and strategies that would inform the wider public on the Belgian Ministry for Development Cooperation’s philosophy, objectives, projects and infrastructure in the field of migration and development. To view Minister De Decker's speech, please click here.

The Council of the European Union adopts a common EU position in preparation to the September 2006 UN HLD on international migration and development, 17-18 July 2006, Brussels
8/4/2006 4:38:16 PM

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council met on 17-18 July 2006 and adopted a number of conclusions on migration-related issues with a particular focus on migration and development. While it expressed concern regarding the increasing illegal migratory flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the Council reiterated the need to ensure coherence of EU policies by further developing the Global Approach to Migration adopted in the Council Presidency Conclusions of December last year and which sets out priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean region, including the promotion of cheaper and more easily remittance services, the improvement of data collection on remittance flows and supporting African states’ efforts to facilitate diasporas’ contribution to their home countries through  co-development projects. The Council also welcomed the outcome of the Europe-African Ministerial Conference held in Rabat on 10-11 July 2006, and reaffirmed the Council's commitment to a close partnership between Europe and Africa, particularly with regard to the follow-up of the Action Plan adopted in Rabat. In line with the provisions of the Global Approach to Migration, the Council also adopted a common EU position to the UN HLD on migration and development due to take place in September 2006. The EU common position was drafted on the basis of the recommendations outlined in the recently-submitted EU Commission Communication on the HLD and will be presented to the UN Secretary General as a key contribution to the preparation of the forthcoming HLD. To view the Council conclusions, please click here.  

Informal Interactive Hearings of the UN General Assembly with NGOs, Civil Society and the Private Sector, 12 July 2006, New York
7/18/2006 4:59:50 PM

On 12 July 2006, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly held Informal Interactive Hearings in New York in preparation for September’s High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. Representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector were invited to interact with Member States and provide input to the Dialogue around three main themes: promoting a comprehensive rights-based approach to international migration; international migration and development - challenges for social and economic policies in sending and receiving countries; and policy responses to benefit countries and migrants alike. In his opening address, the Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, stressed the importance of such hearings in the preparation of General Assembly deliberations: “They offer the opportunity to expand the debate beyond the vital critical inner circle of Governments, to those…with very strong points of view representing very strong and important constituencies. It is a huge strengthening of the UN’s convening role that hearings such as these take place.” He further highlighted the Secretary-General’s (SG) recommendation to develop a standing consultative forum on migration and development, as recommended in the SG’s Report on International Migration and Development of 18 May 2006. Mr. Malloch Brown suggested such a forum would be international in scale and could involve Governments, UN agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The output from the day’s hearings will be a summary prepared by the President of the UN General Assembly in advance of the High-Level Dialogue set to take place on 14-15 September 2006 in New York. For more information, please click here.

Euro-Africa Conference on Migration and Development, 10-11 July 2006, Rabat
7/17/2006 6:04:19 PM

On 10 July 2006, Ministers and representatives of 57 countries from the European Union and the African continent gathered in Rabat for a two-day conference on Migration and Development. Initiated by France, Spain and Morocco after the tragic events of Ceuta and Melilla in September 2005, the conference aimed at bringing immediate and concerted responses to the long-standing migration challenges between North and Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The conference resulted in the adoption of the Rabat Declaration whereby all signatory states have committed to set up ‘a close partnership’ respectful of the fundamental rights and human dignity of the migrants and aiming at combating poverty and promoting sustainable development through better managed migration flows. In line with their firm willingness to move towards a true partnership, the states Ministers and representatives have unanimously adopted an accompanying Action Plan translating the provisions of the Declaration into concrete measures. Particular focus is given to the promotion of ‘migration and development’ and legal migration and the fight against illegal immigration and human trafficking. The Conference was also attended by key international organizations, including the European Commission and the International Organization for Migration which have both highlighted the valuable input of this event in view of the upcoming United Nations High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development and expressed their support in facilitating the implementation of the newly-adopted Action Plan. For more information, please click here.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Development issued its report on Development and Migration, 14 June 2006, Brussels
6/27/2006 11:09:40 AM

The Development Committee of the European Parliament issued, on 14 June 2006, its final report on development and migration. In the framework of the ongoing global debate on migration and development, this report aims to analyse the links between the two fields in an attempt to outline key recommendations vis-à-vis the European Union’s policy on development cooperation. Following an extensive consultation process with other related Committees of the Parliament - i.e. Foreign Affairs; Employment and Social Affairs; Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs; Women’s Rights and Gender Equality – the Development Committee’s report stresses among other things the importance of further integrating migration into development plans, including national poverty reduction strategic papers, and better incorporating the gender dimension into future ‘migration and development’ policies and projects undertaken at EU level. It also calls specifically upon the European Commission and its members states to adopt a ‘European code of conduct’ that would enable stemming the brain drain effect experienced by certain developing countries in key development sectors, such as education and health, and to introduce so-called ‘mini-Marshall plans’ aiming at enhancing integrated regional initiatives in the field of migration and development. On a budgetary level, the report underlines that in order to make migration an effective development tool, the European Union should consider setting up a specific fund for financing migration and development actions as well as a reserve fund for ensuring the sustainability of migrant-run micro-projects and their impact on development. The report was conducted under the overall supervision of the Committee’s Chair, Ms Marie-Arlette Carlotti. Upon invitation by the European Parliament to a hearing on the subject in April 2006, IOM has provided expert advices to the report. To view the full report, please click here.