Debates of the European Parliament

SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 14 JANUARY 2004

Immigration, integration and employment

Karamanou (PSE). – (EL) Mr President, on behalf of the Socialist Group of the European Parliament, I should like to start by emphasising that my group expresses its full support for the text of the report that we are debating today. The Moraes report has remained precisely within the spirit and letter of the decisions taken at Tampere, expressly calling for a more dynamic policy to integrate immigrants, in the aim of granting rights and obligations similar to those which apply to the citizens of Europe.

Of course, immigration policy cannot mean just guarding borders, it cannot only be identified with repressive measures, repatriation and readmission. The Europe of human rights and the Rule of Law needs to recognise the basic labour and political rights of immigrants, to recognise what they have to offer, their valuable contribution to the economic development of Europe.

Of course, social integration makes no sense without recognition of political rights and obligations, in other words the right to vote and to be elected. I think that a huge moral issue is in the making with the position of numerous conservative Members, who gladly accept the exploitation of the manpower of immigrants, especially in jobs which Europeans have abandoned, and at the same time see them as a solution to the demographic problem, but who say nothing about recognising their political rights. Equally immoral is the stance of those who, with opportunistic and expedient positions and practices, feed xenophobia and racism in Europe in an endeavour to raise new Berlin walls in people's minds and conscience.

Over the last ten years, my political group has been fighting for a more humanitarian approach to the problems caused by large waves of immigrants and refugees and we are fighting for a pluralist and multicultural Europe, for unity within our differences, where everyone will have their place and rights without discrimination and without notional walls between us.

European integration, social cohesion and the Lisbon strategy will be unattainable objectives, as you too stressed Commissioner, without the full safeguarding and application of all the human and political rights which European governments have promised to guarantee. I should like to express my satisfaction, because I heard Mr Ahern this morning confirming that the promotion of human rights is one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency. Only if their rights are respected will people of different origins and cultures feel part of the society in which they legally live and work, bearers of rights and obligations with their say on their everyday life, work, education, language learning, housing, health services, social services, their cultural environment and their political activities. Parliament has repeatedly proposed full recognition of the political rights of anyone who has been resident in the European Union for five years.

I should also be obliged, Mr President, if you would allow me, as chairman of the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, to call for something which is missing from the Commission communication: the integration of the gender aspect in all policies relating to immigrants' rights. Women are the most vulnerable group and often the first victims of economic and sexual exploitation. That is why special measures need to be taken to combat discrimination and facilitate their integration into social and professional life. Such measures might be vocational training, childcare facilities, individualisation of their rights, counselling, specialist research etc.