The specific recommendations of a report “Living together: Combining freedom and diversity in 21st century Europe”, commissioned by the Council of Europe and presented in 2011 comprise the following aspects:

 Integration of migrants

– Focusing on legislation, the report recommends that it should be reviewed and adapted to be in line with human rights standards. Strong political statements should be made on the importance of successful integration.

Citizenship and voting rights

– Member states are encouraged to facilitate the acquisition of citizenship by those permanently residing on their territory. Voting rights at local level should be extended to permanent residents.

Asylum and humanitarian issues

 – The Council of Europe and the EU should design an asylum regime in line with human rights standards applicable to the pan-European context. New standards should also be considered for the reception and detention of irregular migrants. Detention is only to be used as a last resort, making use of the alternatives proposed.

Education, youth and intercultural dialogue

– Intercultural competency is recommended as a core element of school curricula and informal education. Mobility of students and educational staff should be increased.

Media

– Journalists are encouraged to end dissemination of stereotypes about particular ethnic groups, who should be given the chance to tell their own version of the story. Regular encounters between main media networks should organised by the Council of Europe to implement guidelines on training, ethical and content production issues.

Roma

– Roma should not be returned to countries where they may face degrading treatment. Segregation of Roma children should be abolished. Access to the labour market promoted, included hiring Roma in public administration. Annual monitoring reports should be issued as follow-up to the Strasbourg declaration on Roma (October 2010).

Local and regional action

– Civil servants dealing with migrants should be trained. Inter-regional and municipal co-operation should be encouraged, including between European and non-European entities. The Intercultural Cities programme should be developed, and national networks established.

Working with neighbours

– The Groups urges the Committee of Ministers to grant a special status to countries on the southern and eastern coast of the Mediterranean and Central Asia willing to adhere to the European Convention on Human Rights. These countries should be invited to join as full members such bodies of the Council of Europe as the North-South Centre or the Venice Commission. Partnership between the Council of Europe and the League of Arab States should be proposed.

The video below has generously been  provided by the late Christophe MIDOL-MONNET – former European Affairs Editor at EURONEWS, multilingual news channel (here is the link to the whole interview – http://youtu.be/t-909eJeD9A)

The different speakers having participated in the report elaboration are as follows: