EU Presidency Statement - Commission on Population and Development, Explanation of Position

39th Commission on Population and Development, Resolution on International Migration and Development, Explanation of Position; Statement by Ms. Hannah Liko, Attachée at the Austrian Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union.

Mr. Chairperson,

The EU welcomes that a consensus was reached on the resolution on international migration and development. The EU is satisfied with the overall balance of the text. While we would have preferred a timely conclusion of the session within the timeframe allocated to it in the official calendar of UN meetings, we are still pleased that the CPD has been able to live up to its task by providing an important input to the High Level Dialogue on Migration in September. We are determined to work for a positive and constructive High Level Dialogue.

An effective and fruitful dialogue starts by exploring and understanding each others' position. The goal must be to raise awareness of the multidimensional aspects, the root causes and effects of migration and of the positive and negative impacts of migration in development terms. Therefore, while the resolution covers a number of important issues related to the orderly management of migration and its developmental aspects, we miss a deeper analysis of the root causes of migration and of the positive impacts that circular migration and the contributions of the migrant diaspora and their networks can have on the development efforts of developing countries as well as the importance of the social and economic integration of migrants, which benefits migrants and receiving societies alike. Well managed migration can bring benefits to sending and receiving countries and to migrants themselves and contribute to the achievement of the MDGs.

In this context, we would also like to reaffirm the EU's commitment to the Cairo Program of Action and the Key Actions for the Further Implementation of the Program of Action of the ICPD. We are committed to achieve the goals agreed at ICPD and to continue to support the attainment of the ICPD goals. We also recognize the inter-relationship between the ICPD Goals and our common effort to meet the MDGs.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

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• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Commission on Population and Development (10/4/2007)
• Calendar of Austrian Presidency January - June 2006 (1/1/2006)
• Austrian EU-Presidency Priorities 2006 (1/1/2006)
• Directory of the Austrian Mission to the United Nations (1/1/2006)