MEPs to attend UN conference on migration in Morocco

BRUSSELS - A European Parliament delegation participates in the UN intergovernmental conference on migration in Marrakech, Morocco, on 10-11 December.

The delegation, led by Linda McAvan (S&D, UK), will represent the position of the European Parliament at the conference to adopt the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

From the outset, the Parliament has supported the goals of the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants and the related process as a unique opportunity to establish a global governance regime and to enhance coordination on international migration.

The resolution on 18 April 2018 insists that the compact for migration “should be people-centred and human rights-based, and should provide for long-term, sustainable and comprehensive measures, for the benefit of all parties involved, building on the principle of partnership and strengthened cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination”. It should protect the most vulnerable (women and children, unaccompanied minors), prevent human rights abuses, and be based on partnership with a broad range of stakeholders, the Parliament stated.

The members of the EP delegation are the following:

Linda McAvan (S&D, UK), chair of the development committee and of the EP delegation
Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), chair of the human rights committee
Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, SE), civil liberties committee
Željana Zovko (EPP, HR), development and foreign affairs committees
Cécile Kyenge (S&D, IT), civil liberties and development committees
Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES), foreign affairs and human rights committees
Judith Sargentini (Greens/EFA, NL), civil liberties and development committees
Laura Ferrara (EFDD, IT), civil liberties and human rights committees
Udo Voigt (NI, DE), civil liberties committee
Quote

“The Global Compact that will be agreed next week is an important step towards creating an international system to better manage migration and cut the amount of people migrating via dangerous, illegal routes. Whilst a number of EU countries are shamefully refusing to sign the voluntary Compact, the European Parliament’s presence in Marrakesh is a symbol of the EU's strong support of the UN process,”, said Linda McAvan (S&D, UK) before the delegation left for Marrakesh.

Background

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2016, marked the beginning of multilateral negotiations to adopt two global compacts on refugees and for safe, orderly and regular migration.

A fairer sharing of the burden and responsibility for hosting and supporting refugees is the objective of the Global Compact on refugees, a non legally binding tool which has already been agreed upon. The similarly non-binding Global Compact on migration seeks to ensure that migrants in vulnerable situations are treated in an adequate way, via durable solutions, addressing at the same time the risks and challenges linked to migration in the countries of origin, transit and destination.

Among the EU member states, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria have announced their intention not to join the intergovernmental Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/06 December 2018 - - -