'Mainstream migration and development policies into all relevant portfolios', says EU civil society body

On 12 December 2007, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) - the EU's consultative body for social partners (trade unions and employers' associations) and civil society organisations - adopted an own-initiative opinion on how migration can be viewed as a tool for development. The opinion makes concrete and practical recommendations in an attempt to shift the debate from the policy level to the programmin level.

For instance, one of the most beneficial applications of migration and development policies are best achieved by facilitating the transfer of remittances, in order to increase levels of income in the countries of origin.

Overall, the opinion calls for the mainstreaming of migration and development policies in all relevant policy portfolios.

MPG Chair Sukhdev Sharma, also Member of the External Relations' section of the EESC, acted as Rapporteur for this opinion.

The opinion is available for download below. Other linguistic versions can be found directly on the EESC website.