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FEPS/Freedom and Solidarity ForumFEPS/Freedom and Solidarity ForumDemographic situation and innovation: Demographic situation and innovation:

perspectives for Latvia’s growth perspectives for Latvia’s growth

Riga, 6 December 2008Riga, 6 December 2008 International Labour Migration: challenges International Labour Migration: challenges

and EU perspectiveand EU perspective

SOENKE SCHMIDT SOENKE SCHMIDT EUROPEAN COMMISSIONEUROPEAN COMMISSION

DG RELEX – GenevaDG RELEX – Geneva

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International labour migration – challenges International labour migration – challenges and EU perspectiveand EU perspective

IntroductionIntroductionThemesThemes -- international migrationinternational migration -- EU migrationEU migration -- national migrationnational migration

ParametersParameters -- general situation and trendsgeneral situation and trends - policies and policy trends - policies and policy trends - managing challenges: the policy mix- managing challenges: the policy mix

Some conclusionsSome conclusions

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A International labour migrationA International labour migration General situation and trendsGeneral situation and trends

Global figuresGlobal figures

““Holistic” focus on labour migration in countries of Holistic” focus on labour migration in countries of originorigin

Enhanced economic need in countries of destinationEnhanced economic need in countries of destination

Towards managing the absorption capacity of societiesTowards managing the absorption capacity of societies

Search for solutions at regional and global levelsSearch for solutions at regional and global levels

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A International labour migrationA International labour migration Policies and policy trendsPolicies and policy trends

Weak international law Weak international law

Dispersed institutional competenciesDispersed institutional competencies

Challenge: managing increased importance and interest in migrationChallenge: managing increased importance and interest in migration

- developing complementary labour migration/market processesdeveloping complementary labour migration/market processes- establish a “common language”establish a “common language”- create economies of scale in recruitment and return policiescreate economies of scale in recruitment and return policies- Work out win-win-win situations (migrants, countries of origin and Work out win-win-win situations (migrants, countries of origin and

destination)destination)- advance bilateral, regional and inter-regional labour migration advance bilateral, regional and inter-regional labour migration

processesprocesses- Move towards global policy coherenceMove towards global policy coherence

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A International Labour MigrationA International Labour Migration

Governance of migration

National level capacity buildingNational level capacity building- PoliciesPolicies- LegislationLegislation- Administrative structuresAdministrative structures- Properly trained and resourced staffProperly trained and resourced staff

Bilateral, regional and global cooperationBilateral, regional and global cooperation- Engaging different stakeholdersEngaging different stakeholders- Coherence between migration and related policy fields: Coherence between migration and related policy fields:

development, trade, labour market… development, trade, labour market…

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A International labour migrationA International labour migration

Managing challenges: the policy mixManaging challenges: the policy mix

From spontaneous to managed migrationFrom spontaneous to managed migration

Towards integrated source, transit and reception management Towards integrated source, transit and reception management

Vision: Vision: Mastering migration helps globalisation to work for migrants, countriesMastering migration helps globalisation to work for migrants, countriesof origin and destination. It contributes to international solidarity, preventsof origin and destination. It contributes to international solidarity, preventsvictimisation of migrants, reduces market failure and aims at globally balancedvictimisation of migrants, reduces market failure and aims at globally balancedmigrationmigration

Underlying longer term issuesUnderlying longer term issues- rights based migration: competitiveness trap?rights based migration: competitiveness trap?- towards commoditisationtowards commoditisation of labour? wholesale trade in services?- toward global transparency and mobility in the labour market?- towards an international regime on the movement of persons? - towards non-binding multilateral frameworks

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A International Labour MigrationA International Labour Migration

Effects of the financial and economic crisisEffects of the financial and economic crisis- little data available - crisis still unfoldinglittle data available - crisis still unfolding- Areas of concern: migrant jobs, remittances, image of Areas of concern: migrant jobs, remittances, image of

migrants, development assistancemigrants, development assistance- Reduced numbers of immigration programmesReduced numbers of immigration programmes- Some sectors more affected than othersSome sectors more affected than others- Risk of migrants going undergroundRisk of migrants going underground- Increased irregular migration?Increased irregular migration?- Migration will continueMigration will continue- Main concerns: scapegoating, public awareness, human Main concerns: scapegoating, public awareness, human

rights rights

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B EU migrationB EU migration

General situation and policiesGeneral situation and policies

- growing migration flows (3 Mio; 1.8 Mio non-EU)- growing migration flows (3 Mio; 1.8 Mio non-EU)- 2013: birth rates will go below replacement rate2013: birth rates will go below replacement rate- low employment rate of non EU national (not LV)low employment rate of non EU national (not LV)- rather low share of highly skilled immigrants (not LV)rather low share of highly skilled immigrants (not LV)- growing demand for highly skilled labourgrowing demand for highly skilled labour- majority of migrants come for other reasons than majority of migrants come for other reasons than

employmentemployment- decreasing intra-EU migration (?)- decreasing intra-EU migration (?)

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B EU MigrationB EU Migration

Motives for shared labour migration policyMotives for shared labour migration policy- Free movement of persons / single marketFree movement of persons / single market- Legislation on non-discrimiationLegislation on non-discrimiation- Need for non EU labour immigrationNeed for non EU labour immigration- Realising the potential / addressing weaknessesRealising the potential / addressing weaknesses- Addressing political and social costsAddressing political and social costs- Competitiveness and solidarity Competitiveness and solidarity - From control to affirmative integrationFrom control to affirmative integration

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EU MigrationEU Migration

Link with the Lisbon StrategyLink with the Lisbon Strategy- Integrated guideline 19 (promoting access to LM): Integrated guideline 19 (promoting access to LM):

access to LM and non-discriminationaccess to LM and non-discrimination- Integrated guideline 20 (matching of LM needs): needs Integrated guideline 20 (matching of LM needs): needs

oriented access managementoriented access management- Towards realising the potential/addressing - Towards realising the potential/addressing

weaknessesweaknesses- Growth, competitiveness and LM management - Growth, competitiveness and LM management - Political and social costs of labour migration- Political and social costs of labour migration-- Governments in control? Towards managing Governments in control? Towards managing

workforce requirements, demography and public workforce requirements, demography and public opinionopinion

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EU migrationEU migration

Link between labour market and social integrationLink between labour market and social integrationSocial inclusion- Sharing of experience and best practiceSharing of experience and best practice- LM participation key to inclusionLM participation key to inclusion- 2009: European Integration Forum2009: European Integration Forum- 2010: focus on social aspects of migration2010: focus on social aspects of migrationFight against discriminationFight against discrimination- Employment Equality DirectiveEmployment Equality Directive- Racial Equality DirectiveRacial Equality Directive- Directive combating discrimination outside employmentDirective combating discrimination outside employmentFundingFunding- € 1,2 billion for 2007/2013- € 1,2 billion for 2007/2013- specific actions to increase migrants‘ employment and integration- specific actions to increase migrants‘ employment and integration- 600.000 migrants benefit each year- 600.000 migrants benefit each year

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EU migrationEU migration

Enhancing legal immigrationEnhancing legal immigration2005 Policy Plan for legal migration2005 Policy Plan for legal migration - National legislation varies between EU MSNational legislation varies between EU MS- Need to simplify so as to make EU more attractive Need to simplify so as to make EU more attractive

for business and migrantsfor business and migrants- Study on legal immigration ongoing (27 MS)Study on legal immigration ongoing (27 MS)- Blue Card / single permit, application procedureBlue Card / single permit, application procedure- Enhanced portability of social security entitlementsEnhanced portability of social security entitlements- Multi-entry permits for circular migrants Multi-entry permits for circular migrants

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B EU migrationB EU migration

From shared motives to common policyFrom shared motives to common policy

The Global Approach to Migration (2005)The Global Approach to Migration (2005) - external dimension of the European Union's migration policy - external dimension of the European Union's migration policy - three main thematic objectives: (i) legal migration; (ii) curb irregular - three main thematic objectives: (i) legal migration; (ii) curb irregular

migration (iii) enhance migration’s contribution to developmentmigration (iii) enhance migration’s contribution to development- comprehensive funding (at least € 600 million per annum)- comprehensive funding (at least € 600 million per annum)- Visa facilitation and readmission agreements- Visa facilitation and readmission agreements- Mobility partnerships / circular migration Mobility partnerships / circular migration - Tools: migration missions and migration profiles; cooperation Tools: migration missions and migration profiles; cooperation

platforms, development of labor-matching tools and twinning platforms, development of labor-matching tools and twinning arrangements arrangements

- cooperation with third countries: regional cooperation, development - cooperation with third countries: regional cooperation, development assistance; visa facilitation and readmission agreementsassistance; visa facilitation and readmission agreements

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B EU migrationB EU migration

Towards a Common EU migration policiesTowards a Common EU migration policies

The European Pact on Immigration and AsylumThe European Pact on Immigration and Asylum

1.1. organise legal migration (labour migration, integration)organise legal migration (labour migration, integration)2.2. control irregular immigration (including return)control irregular immigration (including return)3.3. make border controls more effectivemake border controls more effective4.4. construct Europe of Asylumconstruct Europe of Asylum5.5. develop partnerships (migration and development)develop partnerships (migration and development)

Migration and asylum policy respects fundamental rights explicitly andMigration and asylum policy respects fundamental rights explicitly andworks towards strengthening and enforcing them, within legal mandates,works towards strengthening and enforcing them, within legal mandates,and provides for a fairer system as it provides equal opportunities for alland provides for a fairer system as it provides equal opportunities for allwho want to migrate, and aims at reducing the risk of fatality and humanwho want to migrate, and aims at reducing the risk of fatality and humantrafficking, while lowering the scope for international organised crimetrafficking, while lowering the scope for international organised crime

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B EU migration Shared competencies between EU and Member StatesShared competencies between EU and Member States

EU/MS competencies mix (legislative, policy, funding)EU/MS competencies mix (legislative, policy, funding)

Core areas for community based labour migration policyCore areas for community based labour migration policy

Balancing economic, political and social considerationsBalancing economic, political and social considerations

Harmonising admission conditions did not work, but now commonHarmonising admission conditions did not work, but now commonset of rights, single permit and application proceduresset of rights, single permit and application procedures

Towards external competitiveness, but internal competitionTowards external competitiveness, but internal competition

Other challenges: development, trade, human rights, health,Other challenges: development, trade, human rights, health,international solidarity with refugees, climatic change, …international solidarity with refugees, climatic change, …

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B EU migrationB EU migrationEuropean labour market policy: supporting national effortsEuropean labour market policy: supporting national efforts

- Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs (2005)- Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs (2005)- Migration policyMigration policy- Funding instrumentsFunding instruments- European Employment Observatory- European Employment Observatory

Labour markets under enlargementLabour markets under enlargement

Managing the financial crisisManaging the financial crisis

……but the national policy remains decisive in indentifying the optimalbut the national policy remains decisive in indentifying the optimal policy mix policy mix

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B EU MigrationB EU Migration

Maintaining international solidarityMaintaining international solidarity

Towards a Common European Asylum SystemTowards a Common European Asylum System (CEAS) (CEAS)

Three policy strands:Three policy strands:

1)1) better/more harmonised protection standards through further aligned better/more harmonised protection standards through further aligned MS asylum lawsMS asylum laws

2)2) effective and well supported practical cooperationeffective and well supported practical cooperation 3)3) higher solidarity/responsibility among EU MS( towards a European higher solidarity/responsibility among EU MS( towards a European

Resettlement PolicyResettlement Policy))

FundingFunding

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C National situationsC National situations DemographyDemography

Coherent labour market policy in line with economic growth policy (Lisbon)Coherent labour market policy in line with economic growth policy (Lisbon)

Coherent framework for multi-directional labour migration Coherent framework for multi-directional labour migration (incl. national governance systems – diaspora engagement etc)(incl. national governance systems – diaspora engagement etc)

Short – and longer term migration policies; forward thinking, analysis,Short – and longer term migration policies; forward thinking, analysis,monitoring and planningmonitoring and planning

Political: developing the political culture/managing the processPolitical: developing the political culture/managing the process

Social: towards effective circular migration and integrationSocial: towards effective circular migration and integration

Some realism: “nothing is more permanent than temporary migration” Some realism: “nothing is more permanent than temporary migration”

Making use of and ensuring coherence with EU policy developments Making use of and ensuring coherence with EU policy developments

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D ConclusionsD Conclusions

Globalisation : towards permanent migration management Globalisation : towards permanent migration management

The EU as regional actor (bilateral and regional consultative and The EU as regional actor (bilateral and regional consultative and coordination processes; international agreements, twinning arrangements)coordination processes; international agreements, twinning arrangements)

The EU as global actor (overall policy development; migrationThe EU as global actor (overall policy development; migrationgovernance support; development assistance; international solidarity)governance support; development assistance; international solidarity)

External competitiveness and national responsibilityExternal competitiveness and national responsibility

Coherence of political, social and economic parameters Coherence of political, social and economic parameters Enhancing public awarenessEnhancing public awareness

2020

Thanks for your attentionThanks for your attention