Millions of Europeans have migrated across the globe for centuries, particularly to America, Australia and South America.
They were not rich, but they were escaping poverty. We asked for them to be accepted and to be given rights. They retained their affinity to their country of origin, but they also grew to love their new homes. They excelled and boosted the economies and the cultural and democratic wealth of their host countries. And they sent back money to their country of origin and helped them develop. Thousands of Irish, Italian and Greek flags now fly in every continent on the days of their national holidays. Nobody feels threatened by these dual allegiances.
Imagining the future of Europe without immigration in the age of globalisation is a departure from reality. Immigration is necessary and positive for Europe, for our economic growth, demographic stability and cultural diversity. It is indissolubly linked with development and is part of the solution to many of Europe’s problems, instead of being just one more problem.
Europe needs a comprehensive migration policy that covers a range of aspects. Firstly, it must seek to improve and strengthen legal migration channels. Secondly, it must combat clandestine immigration, especially people trafficking – which further exploits already victimised migrants from poor or war-torn countries. Thirdly, it must address the reasons for the rise in immigration: poverty, underdevelopment, wars and oppressive regimes. Europe must tackle these scourges in its political and economic relations with the wider world.
It must also ask why Europe is attractive to immigrants, and combat illegal employment and exploitation where necessary. It must promote the demographic, research, educational and economic needs of Europe, which includes attracting the labour force. It must seek to create a European bridge between peoples and cultures. And it must respect and promote fundamental rights at all times.
On 12 December last, the European Parliament, the representative chamber of the peoples of Europe, adopted a resolution on fundamental rights in the EU by 308 votes to 229, with 48 abstentions. This progressive resolution, drawn up by a Hungarian colleague of mine in the Socialists and Democrats political group, was unequivocal in its support of the fundamental rights of migrants and their families.
The resolution called on EU member states to focus on effective legal migration policies. It urged all of them to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. It stressed the need to give special attention to women migrants, who are particularly vulnerable. And it urged Europe to move beyond merely ‘informing’ individuals of their rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, to ensure that individuals are aware of how to enforce their European rights – by using European funds to establish networks to advise and assist people, including migrants, whose rights are at risk.
It also strongly condemned the use of detention centres to hold immigrants, especially minors, and urged member states to introduce alternatives under national legislation. It highlighted the potential of the draft European legislation on seasonal workers, currently being negotiated, for reducing irregular working conditions and the risk of exploitation. It emphasised that access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and called on member states to make this accessible in practice for irregular migrants, and especially pregnant women and minors.
In my capacity as MEP for Dublin, I am determined to continue to work closely with migrants and their representatives and to uphold the fundamental rights of migrants and their families in Ireland and all across Europe.
Emer Costello is an MEP for Dublin with the Labour Party and a former Dublin Lord Mayor.
