CoE plans political declaration on migration
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has backed plans for a political declaration to be made by ministers from the Council of Europe (CoE) next year on migration.
He was speaking at a meeting in Strasbourg today (10 December) convened by the human-rights body’s secretary general Alain Berset to discuss issues related to migration and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The CoE says that issues related to migration – including the relationship between the ECHR and national measures to control migration – have become the subject of intense political debate in, and between, many Council of Europe member states.
The Strasbourg event is intended to bring those discussions within the framework of the Council of Europe.
Ireland ‘shares concerns’
Speaking at the event, Minister O’Callaghan reiterated Ireland’s support for the ECHR and the European Court of Human Rights, describing them as “critical elements of the architecture of the rule of law in Europe”.
He added, however, that Ireland shared concerns expressed by Denmark on behalf of a number of member states about the challenges arising in relation to migration.
The minister said that there was a need to ensure that the ECHR was understood and applied in a way that met its core objectives of protecting fundamental rights, while at the same time recognising issues such as:
- The expulsion of foreign criminals,
- The need for clarity about inhumane and degrading treatment,
- The need for "innovative solutions" on migration, and
- The need for an appropriate balance between individuals’ rights and the public interest, and
- The need to address “the instrumentalisation of migration”.
‘Keep convention strong’
O’Callaghan also backed a decision at today’s meeting to instruct the council’s steering committee on human rights (CDDH) to prepare a political declaration for agreement by ministers in May.
The minister added that it would be beneficial for migration-policy specialists from member states to work with the CDDH on preparing the political declaration.
Speaking ahead of the event, Berset said: “Our task is not to weaken the convention, but to keep it strong and relevant – to ensure that liberty and security, justice and responsibility, are held in balance.”