Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

While creating jobs where people live is the best option, the
mobility of persons across borders for reasons of employment is
here to stay in our globalizing world and likely to increase. Given
this, the efficient and equitable management of international
labour migration is needed to optimize its positive impact and
minimize any negative effects for both countries of origin and
destination as well as for migrant workers and their families.

Migrants are actors in development, in both countries of origin
and destination. Labour migration has become a key feature in
enabling industrialized countries to meet economic, labour market
and productivity challenges in a globalized economy. Migration
today serves as an instrument for meeting labour market and skills
shortages in host countries. In countries with ageing populations,
migration also offers a potential for at least partially
replenishing a declining workforce and narrowing the fiscal gap
between government revenues and social expenditure. For countries
of origin, migrant remittances to developing countries, estimated
at over USD 160 billion in 2005, constitute a vital source of
foreign exchange, and income for remittance receiving
households.

Indeed, a growing body of knowledge amply demonstrates that both
male and female migrants make a large contribution to economic and
social development in both their host and country of origin.
Despite this scenario, many migrant workers remain vulnerable to
abuse during recruitment, travel and employment abroad. A common
problem faced by migrant workers is high migration costs as a
result of excessive (and often illegal) intermediation fees. Other
problems include, in some countries, poor working conditions,
absence of adequate social protection and freedom of association,
and xenophobia. These problems erode the benefits of migration for
all parties and seriously undermine its development impact
including productive employment and decent work. Where necessary,
countries of origin and destination need to have in place policies,
legislation and mechanisms that afford migrant workers protection
and support from any abuses in the labour migration process. An
important part of IOM's work in labour migration is policy dialogue
and technical cooperation in putting such systems in place.

A second challenge in creating a conducive environment for
generating full and productive employment, where the role of
migration is concerned, is better management of migration that both
facilitates labour mobility and discourages irregular migration.
Less cumbersome procedures which permit migrant workers in sectors
where there is a labour shortage will be beneficial to all sides,
and will likewise under-cut irregular migration. Countries of
origin have an interest in discouraging irregular migration, too,
as irregular migrants are often more vulnerable to abuse and
exploitation. IOM has been working with governments, employers and
workers in countries of origin and destination in facilitating
legal labour migration while preventing irregular migration.

Migration can have adverse consequences and one of these is the
emigration of skilled human resources, particularly where small and
fragile economies are concerned. Without impinging on the principle
of freedom of movement, measures such as promoting ethical
recruitment practices and facilitating the voluntary return of
qualified nationals can be taken. At the same time the resources
and skills of the migrant diasporas can be utilized to generate
employment in countries of origin. IOM's Migration for Development
in Africa (MIDA) programme is an example of how this is being
achieved.

Finally, in closing, I would like to stress the importance of
international dialogue and cooperation in managing migration for
the benefit of all, including in generating productive employment
and decent work. Labour migration has moved to the top of the
policy agendas of many countries. Governments at both ends of the
migration spectrum are increasing their regulatory capacities to
manage labour mobility for the mutual benefit of society, migrants
and the state. At the same time, by its very nature, international
migration is a cross-border or transnational phenomena, and cannot
therefore be managed or addressed solely at the national level. The
development of effective, fair and durable labour migration
policies and practices requires cooperation among all states
involved in the process (i.e. countries of origin, transit and
destination). The IOM has been promoting such dialogue and
cooperation through regional consultative processes (at the
regional level) and the International Dialogue on Migration. We
look forward to continuing to work with all stake-holders to make
labour migration a true instrument of employment and development in
origin and host countries as well as for migrants themselves.

Thank you for your attention.

I thank the Mediterranean Special Group of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies,
for this invitation. The subject of your seminar – security
challenges in the Mediterranean and the Middle East - is more than
timely.



It is a pleasure to discuss migration in a NATO environment, also
because relations between our two organizations are growing
steadily. Just a few months ago we signed an agreement with NATO's
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe (SHAPE) to increase
cooperation in natural disasters, complex emergencies and post
conflict environments. The agreement “paves the way for an
increased exchange of information and expertise at planning and
operational levels to improve the capacity of both organizations to
respond in times of humanitarian emergencies”. Earlier this
year we held a first joint training seminar on “exit
strategies” with the NATO College in Rome, and we send
lecturers to Oberammergau with some frequency.



The linkages between migration and security are obviously receiving
growing attention. While security is a necessary dimension of
migration management (and I shall return to this later), it must
however not become the principal focus of the debate. There are
many others to consider. Key among them is demographics –
both in origin and destination societies; incidentally a
distinction that is getting increasingly blurred.



Philippe Fargues will no doubt discuss the Mediterranean dimension
of demographics and migration in some details. I shall thus just
point out a few more generalized facts as they emerge from recent
research.

1. All countries of Western Europe have a positive migration
   balance as do 6 of the 10 new EU member States. It is very likely
   that soon this will be the case for the rest of Europe. 
2. Demographic stagnation best describes Europe’s native
   populations.
3. In 2004, the total number of long-term immigrants into OECD
   countries reached between 3 to 3.5 million, including about 1
   million in the United States. In Italy and Portugal, the large
   number of irregular migrants may explain the relatively low levels
   of registered long-term entries.
4. Despite the recent increase in labour migration, accompanying
   family and family reunification still make up the bulk of long-term
   migration to most OECD countries.
5. Temporary labour migration is also important and
   increasing.
6. There has been a sharp decrease of asylum seekers in the last 3
   years, but this category still fuels important flows (336,000 in
   2005, 15 percent fewer than in 2004). Certain countries (Austria,
   Finland, France, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden) see marked
   increases. Nevertheless, in the 25 countries of the European Union,
   as well as in Europe as a whole, the number of asylum seekers last
   year was the lowest since 1988. 
7. Immigration flows are characterized by the predominance of a
   few traditional origin countries and the increase of certain
   nationalities (recently, for example, Romanians for Italy, Poles
   for Germany, Danes, Poles and Thais for Sweden).
8. Unauthorized migration and illegal employment continue.
   According to recent UN estimates, there were between 7 and 8
   million irregular migrants present in Europe in 2005. The boats
   arriving in Lampedusa harbour or at the Canaries provide an
   impressive picture picked up by the media. Most migrants, however,
   become irregulars because of clandestine or fraudulent entry, legal
   entry followed by overstaying or illegality induced by
   administrative measures.
9. Immigration contributes significantly to population growth in a
   number of OECD countries, with Spain and Italy registering most of
   their growth thanks to immigration.
10. Immigrants make up an important and increasing share of the
    total labour force in most OECD countries. Their integration into
    the labour market does however face difficulties. In many
    countries, the unemployment rates of immigrants are significantly
    higher than those of native-born.
11. Selective migration policies have become more and more
    important as competition among receiving countries increases to
    attract and retain the best and brightest. This raises concerns
    about brain circulation vs. brain drain, and the benefits that
    countries of origin and of destination as well as the individual
    migrants draw from this phenomenon.

The EU strategy for the external dimension of the policy on
freedom, security and justice emphasizes the need for international
migration to be addressed as a priority issue. Indeed, Europe has
the highest share of the 191 million international migrants in the
world – today, one in every three migrants lives in
Europe.



Demographic trends, increasing global economic integration and the
gap in income levels between the developed and developing worlds
ensure that migration to Europe will continue. Freedom, security
and justice in the EU and its neighbouring countries and the aim of
prosperity and stability in the region require that mobility will
not take the form of more unregulated migration, with associated
adverse effects and security challenges, but will instead flow into
safe, orderly, humane and productive avenues.



A comprehensive and balanced approach to migration requires
policies and measures addressing a broad range of challenges and
opportunities including regular and irregular migration, human
rights of migrants, migration and development, inter-state dialogue
and cooperation, integration and return.



After the events of 9/11 and in light of a sustained global
terrorist threat, security concerns necessarily are high on
national and international agendas, including in the context of the
movement of people. In Europe and internationally, security remains
one the central considerations in migration management.



There is a close link between cross-border mobility and security.
Irregular migration poses a threat to security and stability in a
variety of ways:

• In its most corrosive forms of smuggling and trafficking, it is
  linked to transnational organized crime. Entry of migrants in an
  irregular manner undermines the capacity of states to ensure public
  order; trafficking and smuggling on a large scale can corrupt and
  undermine the institutions of the state. My organization estimates
  that some 200,000 people are trafficked into and within Europe
  every year, the majority of them women and girls for sexual
  exploitation.
• Moreover, irregular migration fuels corruption, as well as
  informal economies and undermines social cohesion, which, at worst,
  may provoke xenophobia and racism.

The challenge States face is how to protect society and reduce
irregular migration without stifling legitimate and needed movement
and without imposing serious constraints on personal rights and
liberties.



While it is the fundamental right of each country to determine who
enters and remains in its territory and under what conditions,
geographic mobility increasingly extends the scope of security
concerns beyond national borders. Addressing modern security
threats requires a broader concept of security based on promoting
development, respect for human rights and the rule of law.



Comprehensive approaches to migration management should be pursued
not only in terms of content – by addressing the multiplicity
of relevant policy areas --but also in terms of participation. It
is necessary to include all relevant players at both the national
and international levels. At the national level, that would involve
all governmental ministries whose work directly or indirectly
involves or impacts migration – such as justice and home
affairs, defense, labour, trade and development. The business
community, trade unions and civil society are key voices that need
to be heard at grassroots levels. At the international level,
organizations dealing with issues such as development, labour,
human rights, trade, health and crime prevention need to be
involved. Cooperation is key to this extent, to bridging coherence
gaps and achieving effective migration management.



The multilateral agencies of the UN and IOM have created the Global
Migration Group (GMG), an inter-agency gathering, meeting at the
level of Heads of agencies. Its membership is composed of the ILO,
IOM, OHCHR, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNODC, UNDESA, UNDP, UNFPA and the World
Bank.



Global dialogue on migration too has experienced some progress.
IOM's International Dialogue on Migration brings together more than
130 states and partner organizations to share experiences and
perspectives and create better understanding and cooperation in the
management of migration. The UN has decided to make International
Migration and Development a yearly agenda item, a High-Level
dialogue in New York will discuss the issue in detail this
September, and these days there is also talk about establishing a
further forum that will allow debate among governments on migration
issues.



IOM is actively involved in promoting regional cooperation on
migration including through initiation and facilitation of regional
dialogues. Regional and sub-regional processes, such as the 5+5
Dialogue on Migration in the Western Mediterranean provide
essential fora for informal dialogue, exchange of information,
analysis of migration-related topics and capacity building in the
region. The forthcoming Rabat conference too will be an important
step in the dialogue between countries involved in the same flows
of migrants, and so does the “Across Sahara” project
that promotes dialogue and technical cooperation between Italy,
Libya and Niger.



Key to deepening cooperation among these countries is the
recognition that transit states in Northern Africa bear significant
burdens as a result of heavy migration flows. These countries act
as a buffer apprehending considerable and increasing numbers of
irregular migrants en route to Europe. The EECA countries are in a
similar situation where the heaviest burden of irregular migrants
seeking to enter the EU is experienced by the countries on the
Western Border of the CIS (Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova). Turkey
too is a major transit and destination country.



The influx of irregular migrants puts a considerable strain on the
often under-resourced social and welfare services of transit
countries, when irregular migrants temporarily settle there before
trying to reach their destination. Transit states often do not have
the capacity to send these migrants back to their countries of
origin or to accommodate them. In addition, irregular migrants
typically take up informal jobs while in transit states, fuelling
growth of the informal economy - and corruption.



IOM is actively working with the Maghreb states on bilateral as
well as sub-regional levels providing support and strengthening
their institutional capacity to combat irregular migration and
trafficking and develop effective migration management systems.



To respond more adequately to these new challenges we opened this
year new offices in Tripoli and on Lampedusa Island, south of
Sicily.



One of the projects implemented by IOM in Libya provides support to
the Libyan government in responding to the growing challenges of
increasing irregular and transit migration in a humane manner,
including through bringing reception conditions available to
irregular migrants up to international standards and offering such
migrants voluntary return possibilities.



Effective migration management requires capacity building to help
place all states on more equal footing. Due to the complexity of
migration management, capacity building must cover a range of
cross-cutting activities and sectors of policy making. Lack of
migration management capacity in some countries can undermine the
ability of the whole region to deal effectively with issues related
to the movement of people. Therefore a partnership between
countries with different levels of capacity is essential. While the
EU plays a prominent role in providing financial and technical
assistance (through such programmes as AENEAS, TACIS, CARDS, MEDA,
AGIS and ARGO) to partner countries in developing their capacities,
more is needed.



We do have many tools and fora at our disposal. Still, all is not
well when it comes to managing international migration in a humane
and efficient manner. The deserts of Africa and the shores of the
Mediterranean already host too many graves of often anonymous
migrants who did not make it. Many were unaware of the real risks
linked to irregular migration or the (few) actual legal migration
opportunities that their smugglers have no interest in promoting.
Information – credible, from a neutral source, based on facts
– is one key element of managing migration and preventing
hardship. Migration also brings challenges to the societies where
migrants have managed to arrive; among them are social tension,
conflicted identity, and the alienation caused by inadequate
integration. With the numbers of migrants - and countries -
affected by migration growing, integration has become a major focus
for policy makers at all levels. In Europe we have seen different
models succeed - or sometimes fail. Here much more will have to be
invested in order to avoid that the centrifugal forces brought by
many diverse nationalities, religions and cultures will not become
stronger than the cohesion that still characterizes most European
societies.



Successful integration helps migrants become active members in the
economic, social, cultural and political life of host states. This,
in turn, can also be beneficial for their countries of origin,
because migrants can then more easily mobilize their human and
financial capital to support the development process.



While the term is used and understood differently in different
countries and contexts, "integration" can be defined as the process
by which migrants become accepted into society, both as individuals
and as groups. It generally refers to a two-way process of
adaptation by migrants and receiving societies, while the
particular requirements for acceptance by a host society vary from
country to country. The responsibility for integration rests with
many actors: migrants themselves, host governments, various public
and private institutions and communities. Integration does not
necessarily imply permanent settlement. It does, however, imply
consideration of the rights and obligations of migrants and host
societies, of access to different kinds of services and the labour
market, and of identification and respect for a core set of values
that bind migrants and host communities in a common purpose.



The relationship of migrants with the host society can be seen as
taking place along a spectrum ranging from:

• very little interaction where migrants are essentially
  segregated or excluded or segregate themselves from the society in
  which they live and work; 
• an expectation that migrants shed their cultural identity by
  assimilating into the mainstream culture; 
• an encouragement to migrants to take on a new national
  identity; 
• promotion of the retention and development of migrant cultures
  and languages in a multicultural context; to 
• the development of transnational and dual or multiple
  identities where migrants live in, have a sense of belonging to,
  and participate effectively in two or more societies, including
  those of destination and origin countries.

A polarity of integration models is emerging today. Key
questions for reflection and discussion should include:

• What does it mean to be successfully integrated
  today? 
• What level of integration is required for each category or type
  of migrant? 
• What are the implications for the identity of a country or a
  society? 
• What are the implications for government policies, for example,
  regarding language and access to social services, education, and
  health care? 
• What should the core values of each society be and through what
  process or processes could they be better defined? 
• Should diversity and transnational identity be viewed as
  inherent values to be promoted, or simply as realities that cannot
  be ignored, and how can they be harnessed to benefit communities in
  both host and origin countries?

In the past, migratory trends were dominated by one-time,
unidirectional movement resulting in permanent settlement in
countries of destination. As a result, countries of destination
traditionally focused on the integration of migrants with a view to
putting them on the path to nationality. For this reason, some
countries’ considered (and continue to consider) integration
only in these terms.



Though permanent and long-term migration remains significant,
International migration today is increasingly temporary, circular
and multi-directional. As these characteristics increase, more
countries are seeing this phenomenon as a policy priority. These
trends in direction and duration highlight the need for integration
efforts to be flexible and responsive to the needs of each
different situation, and in particular to address the specific
place and role of temporary migrants in the host society.



To focus today solely on integration in terms of long term or
permanent migration risks marginalizing an increasingly large
segment of the population in many countries, with negative social
and economic implications. Moreover, the particular situation of
migrants in an irregular status cannot be ignored: at a minimum,
their human rights must be respected and enforced.



The effectiveness of integration strategies depends to a large
extent on the particular needs of individual migrants and those of
the host country or community. While policies on integration have
mainly developed in Western countries and in traditional
immigration countries, every country needs to find its own approach
in view of its specific circumstances. For example, whether
migrants will have access to the labour market and to social
services such as healthcare and other forms of public assistance
depends on host country approaches to these questions for
nationals, as well as for migrants.



Even where migration is temporary, a certain level of integration
is nonetheless necessary to ensure that the temporary stay is as
productive and beneficial as possible. Where migrants have chosen a
host society but have not been chosen by it (i.e. either entered
without permission or overstayed a lawful entry), questions of
integration nonetheless are important for social stability,
security and national identity. While migrants in an irregular
situation are integrated de facto in some cases, particularly if
they are employed and speak the local language, some countries have
adopted measures enabling certain groups of irregular migrants to
regularize their status, in recognition of their contribution to
the national economy, or, conversely, to prevent their further
exploitation and marginalization, and promote their fuller
integration.



By familiarizing migrants with legal requirements and
administrative practices and instilling them with a sense of
belonging and responsibility to the host community while respecting
and valuing their own culture, integration can positively affect
migrants’ desire to abide by host society rules and to be
active contributors to society. All members of the community,
including migrants, not only avoid the negative repercussions
arising from migrants’ isolation and marginalization, but
positively benefit from strengthened communities.



Policy approaches to integration are often adopted based on the
cause or category of movement, such as resulting from persecution
or conflict in the case of refugees, lack of economic opportunity,
or to unite with family. Migrants’ skills, reasons for
migrating, cultural values and traditions, place of origin, place
of destination, length of stay, family status, and gender too are
among the factors to consider.



Integration involves a number of dimensions, including economic,
social, cultural, political and legal. While much discussion of
integration focuses on ensuring migrants’ ability to be
gainfully employed and contribute to the local economy, more than
this is required if migrants are to be full participants in their
host society.



The consequences of failed economic integration of migrants are all
too evident. Persistent unemployment among many second and third
generation migrants, increasing alienation, isolation and
frustration, often fuelled by a combination of relative poverty,
limited educational opportunities and the absence of supportive
networks, can result in social tension and disturbances. These
issues often affect the local population in poorer and more
deprived communities and not just migrants, and therefore require
comprehensive economic and social strategies, involving governments
at all levels as well as a wide range of other stakeholders, such
as employers, local communities and civil society
organizations.



Whether or not migrants embark on the path to integration can
depend to a large degree on social policy advocating a proactive
approach to migrants. The provision of social services can
facilitate integration by giving migrants the information and
resources necessary for their self-reliance and interaction in
society. Social policies, particularly in education and health
care, which promote acceptance of diversity, help migrants and
their families integrate and build healthier societies. Providing
opportunities for migrants – both children and adults –
to learn the local language is a critical first step.
Migrants’ resource centres may “give a face” to
such initiatives, as is already the case in several countries.



Tolerance of diversity is crucial, and concerted efforts are
required to create relationships between culturally distinct
communities of migrants and nationals with a view to building
social cohesion and harmony. Schools and the media have
particularly important roles to play in promoting tolerance and
mutual acceptance.



Migration can alter the cultural composition and economic landscape
of whole regions, cities and communities in host countries, due to
the increase in population or to the particular practices, skills
sets and beliefs of individual migrants. Migrants and migration can
bring vibrancy, increased productivity, cultural richness and
diversity. But cultural and religious differences between migrants
and the host society can also bring into focus competing values
such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion and can
result in intolerance, discrimination and xenophobia.



“Successfully integrated" migrants often are involved in
community activities as well as religious organizations. An
environment of cultural and religious tolerance is a prerequisite
for such participation. In order to maintain social cohesion in the
face of growing diversity, sensitization of younger generations to
religious tolerance in schools and elsewhere, as well as fair and
balanced portrayal of migration and religious diversity by the
media, require particular attention. Moreover, migrants originating
from societies where religion plays a key role may need specific
support to integrate themselves in countries where socio-cultural
diversity is more pronounced.



The legal dimensions of integration, including mutual rights and
obligations on the part of migrants and their host societies,
heavily influence all aspects of the integration process. All
migrants -- regardless of legal status -- are human beings who
possess human rights and freedoms set forth in international human
rights law. National laws are adopted to ensure their effective
implementation. The core guarantee is against discrimination:
differential treatment between nationals may be allowed, but
discrimination -- unfair, unjustifiable or arbitrary distinction --
is not.



Proactive attention to migrant integration can lead to long term
savings from the preventable costs of failed integration.
Partnerships between and among stakeholders at the national and
international levels are crucial for the development of effective
integration policies and practices. Governments will have a central
role in facilitating the development and implementation of many of
these partnerships. The law - makers, have the key role of voting
the laws that provide the framework that influences success or
failure of integration.



Thank you very much.