European Economic and Social Committee
Building talent partnerships with countries of origin and transit is a key policy in addressing migration. Europe has to shift the focus of migration policy's external dimension and make it part of a broader geopolitical and geo-economic agenda that will be given its rightful place other policies. Otherwise, the new pact will be too weak to deal with the rising numbers of migration flows.
Solidarity à la carte, too strong a focus on border controls and too little emphasis on legal and labour migration pathways are among the main faults found in the New Migration Pact, with few tangible achievements in Member States’ negotiations on how to deliver a comprehensive policy that can successfully rise to the challenge of effectively managing migration to the EU
The EESC is worried about the feasibility of a number of proposals contained in the pact. There are grave concerns that it may even add to the pressure on the already overwhelmed states of first entry, effectively turning them into closed centres
for migrants at EU borders
In a debate with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson at its plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the New Pact on Migration and Asylum but criticised its lack of ambition and boldness. Too focused on borders and returns, the Pact proposes too few feasible solutions for a solidarity-based approach to migration management
Holistic strategies and harmonisation of action plans for integration could be the way to go, EESC members explain. EU Member States deal with integration policies in widely different ways, based on their specific circumstances and migration histories. Yet the specific needs of women and children striving to overcome discrimination or obstacles to their integration are not always fully taken into consideration. However, the EESC put forward ways to address these shortcomings in an opinion presented at the October plenary session.
We are awaiting the New Pact on Migration and Asylum with great hope but also concern, the EESC tells Commissioner Schinas.
At its July plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with Commission Vice-President, Margaritis Schinas, who presented several upcoming initiatives falling under his portfolio of "Promoting our European Way of Life", including the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Skills Agenda, the EU for Health Programme and the new Security Union Strategy.
On 22 June the ‘Diversity Europe Group’ of the EESC organised a conference entitled ‘Civil Society Organisations Helping Refugees and Migrants in Europe’. The event took place in a hybrid format with some Members and speakers participating in person, whilst others connected remotely.
Up to three times as many people are being displaced annually due to natural disasters as to armed conflicts or other forms of violence, and much of what is now international migration started out as weather-related internal displacement.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) said it regretted the fact that not all Member States of the European Union had approved the Global Compact for Migration, which, in its view, presented an excellent opportunity to make progress on establishing a single EU voice on migration at global level.
Hearing at the EESC displayed a range of civil society and public initiatives fostering migrant inclusion.
