Brussels, 02/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - Ministers from ACP states (African, Caribbean and Pacific) responsible for asylum, immigration and mobility reaffirmed in Brussels on 30 May 2008 the need to step up South-South and North-South cooperation on migration to accentuate inter-cultural dialogue among nations, promote peace, facilitate the boosting of capacity for managing migration issues and migrant mobility.
The resolution adopted by the ministers at the end of their second meeting on 29-30 May calls for the promotion of a positive, human, approach to migration, combining the fight against the brain drain, the contribution of ACP ex-pats to the sustainable development of their countries of origin, international mobilisation to soften the environmental phenomena likely to force people to emigrate, and taking immigration into account in development programmes and projects funded by the EU. The document, entitled 'The ACP Group Brussels Resolution on Migration and Development', for the EU and the joint institutions of the ACP-EU partnership, is the ACP group's contribution to the second Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila, the Philippines, in October 2008. At the start of the meeting, John Kaputin, Secretary-General of the ACP Group, expressed his group's determination to combat human insecurity and ensure that ACP migrants were protected. We are entitled to mobility, he said, recalling the importance of respecting the law. Aware that migrants are vulnerable targets of xenophobia, as shown by the recent wave of violence against foreigners in some ACP states like South Africa, he added: 'we have the obligation to condemn these acts, and ensure that the rights of people are protected'. He said that only a people-based approach would enable progress to be made in resolving migration issues.
In the resolution, the ACP group welcomes the launch of the intra-ACP Migration Facility with €25 million from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF, which foresees the setting up of a migration monitoring centre and strengthened capacity to manage migration in ACP countries and regions) and calls for the scope of application of the Facility to be vacillated under the 10th EDF to take account of the impact of climate change on migration; urges ACP countries to adopt and apply legislation to combat racism and xenophobia and to organise awareness raising campaigns in this connection; urges ACP countries and regions and international development partners to ensure that development cooperation is never subordinated to the existence or adoption of national migration policies in ACP countries and regions; invites the ACP Secretariat to ensure research is carried out by 2009 on best practices for promoting the integration of migrants in their host countries; pledges to promote the role of migrant networks and ex-pats in sharing experience and the positive aspects of immigration; recommends the drawing up and promotion of innovative solutions to stem illegal immigration and the brain drain from ACP countries by favouring the implementation of flexible, circular, migration to allow the circulation of brains; invites ACP states to guarantee a suitable legal and financial environment to amplify the multiplying impact of the sending home of money by immigrants. The ACP group recommends reducing the costs of transferring funds but points out that such private funds can in no way substitute for public development aid. It recommends the adoption of measures to combat the ever more frequent dumping of toxic waste in ACP countries and waters. It urges the international community to lessen the negative impact of the degradation of the environment and immigration due to environmental issues, and to reverse the trend. (A.N.)