No C 188/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 7. 85 
Opinion on guidelines for a Community policy on migration 
(85/C 188/03) 
On 18 March 1985 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on guide­
lines for a Community policy on migration. 
The Section for Social Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's Work 
on the subject, adopted its opinion on 23 May 1985, in the light of the report by Mr 
Dassis. 
At its 227th plenary session (meeting of 29 May 1985) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following opinion by 65 votes to 10, with 29 abstentions (vote recorded): 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee supports the aims of the commu­
nication and welcomes the ideas contained in the initial 
explanatory chapter on the creation of a Community 
policy. 
However, the Committee regrets that the proposals 
made in the draft Council resolution deal only partially 
and imprecisely (if at all) with the measures which the 
explanatory memorandum deems necessary. 
The Committee also regrets that the Commission 
communication does not propose any action to combat 
xenophobia, racism and discrimination. 
Furthermore, the Committee feels that in the present 
circumstances a resolution is not enough, and that more 
binding measures should be taken. 
1.2. The Committee refers back to its recent ESC 
own-initiative opinion (•) which remains fully valid. 
The general and specific comments contained in that 
opinion form the basis of the present opinion. 
1.3. The scale of migration to the Member States 
(whether from other Member States or from third coun­
tries), together with the recession and mass unemploy­
ment, are fuelling campaigns which seek to blame 
migrant workers for the problems which these eco­
nomic and social difficulties bring, causing xenophobia 
and racism in the various Member States. 
In reality, however, immigration has come to be an 
internal matter for the host country, and a part of local 
society. The problems of immigrant children (second 
generation) both bear this out and illustrate the urgent 
need for a major drive to integrate them in society and 
in the workforce. 
(') Opinion on migrant workers, 25 October 1984, OJ No 
C 343, 24. 12. 1984. Often, the living, schooling and working conditions of 
immigrants, be they citizens of the Member States or of 
third countries, are hardly conducive to the stabiliza­
tion of immigration in the country of residence, nor in 
keeping with the principles of the EEC Treaties. The 
Council and the Commission must thus draw up a plan 
of action as soon as possible, geared to current needs 
and to the role of immigration in the host countries. For 
third countries, such a plan could be guided by 
Annexes IX and X to Lome Convention (Joint declara­
tion on ACP migrant workers and ACP students in the 
Community and joint declaration on workers who are 
nationals of one of the Contracting Parties and are 
legally resident in the territory of a Member State or an 
ACP State). 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Migration policies 
There is an urgent need for concerted action on migra­
tion policies, more especially as regards third countries. 
The two sides of industry should be involved in this. 
Provision for this was made in the EEC's 1974 action 
programme, and again in the Council resolution of 
9 February 1976, but as yet no further action has been 
taken. 
Concrete cooperation and collaboration between the 
Member States and the Commission is needed 
regarding national legislation on the position of immi­
grants. This must at least dissuade the Member States 
from adopting immigration provisions which run 
counter to the Treaty of Rome, more especially as 
regards the principles of freedom of movement and 
freedom of establishment. 
2.2. Political rights 
Special priority should be given to the political and 
civic rights of immigrants. 
29. 7. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 188/7 
The Committee reiterates the view expressed in the 
own-initiative opinion, and regrets that the draft 
Council resolution gives insufficient weight to this 
point. 
In particular: 
— Naturalization procedures must be simplified and 
adapted to allow immigrants to become naturalized 
in specified conditions. It should be easier for 
young second generation immigrants to obtain 
naturalization. It should not, however, be manda­
tory. 
— Immigrants who are lawfully established must be 
guaranteed right of residence after an agreed period 
of time. 
— The question of the right to vote and hold office 
must be tackled. A first step would be to allow EEC 
migrants to participate in some appropriate way in 
local politics. All EEC nationals should be allowed 
to vote in their country of residence in the European 
Parliament elections. 
2.3. Employment and vocational training 
Draconian measures are needed at Community level to 
combat illegal employment and illicit traffic in labour; 
these should include the unblocking of the 1976 draft 
Directive on this at the Council. Stiff penalties must be 
meted against job traffickers and employers who use 
this type of labour. 
The national procedures for granting refugee status 
should be speeded up, to make it easier for refugees to 
enter the labour market. 
Appropriate vocational training and retraining 
programmes must be implemented, along with 
Community-level recognition of Member States' quali­
fications and certificates. 
The Committee has said before that Community policy 
on free movement can only be effective if it is accom­
panied by a vigorous employment policy and, with the 
help of the Social Fund, by the provision of training 
and placement for workers. 
Done at Brussels, 29 May 1985. 2.4. Social security 
The Committee stresses the need to: 
— take the necessary step at Community level to bring 
the social security systems closer together, 
— pattern social security conventions with third coun­
tries on a Community model, 
— guarantee immigrants the same social security bene­
fits as nationals. 
2.5. Education 
The following measures are urgently needed: 
— Member States' regular school curricula to reflect 
the Community Directive on the teaching of native 
language and culture, and the extension of this 
Directive to the children of workers from third 
countries; 
— introduction of a dual system for teaching second 
generation children their mother tongue; 
1. integration of the teaching of the mother tongue 
into the normal school curriculum; 
2. organization of optional special courses in the 
mother tongue of immigrants, outside the 
normal curriculum; 
— guaranteed right to teaching for all young people 
without discrimination. 
2.6. Housing conditions 
A European housing fund, in which migrant workers 
also participate, should be set up to help organize the 
proposed urban renovation work. The Committee has 
given its views on this subject in its own-initiative 
opinion (•). 
2.7. Opportunities for reintegration 
Any policy for the return and reintegration of immi­
grants must be based on the principle of free choice. No 
pressure of any kind must be put on them. Moreover, 
such a policy cannot succeed if it fails to take account 
of the specific measures detailed in the ESC own-initia­
tive opinion. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR 
(i) OJ No C 343, op. cit., point 3.2.3. 
No C 188/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 7. 85 
APPENDICES 
to tiw opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
APPENDIX 1 
Voting 
A roll-call vote was taken on the opinion as a whole. The following members (voting in person or 
through their replacements) were in favour of the opinion: 
Mr Amato, Mr Arena, Mr Bagliano, Mr Bazianas, Mr Beretta, Mr Bleser, Mr Boddy, Mr Briganti, Mr 
Burnel, Mr Carroll, Mr Cavazzuti, Mr Chalioris, Mr Cremer, Mr Curlis, Mr Dassis, Mr De Grave, Mr 
Delia Croce, Mr Delourme, Mr Drilleaud, Mr Dunet, Mr Eelsen, Mr d'Elia, Mr Emo Capodilista, Mrs 
Engelen-Kefer, Mr Etty, Mr Flum, Mr Glesener, Mr van Greunsven, Mr Hammond, Mr Hadjivassiliou, 
Mr Houthuys, Mr Jarvis, Mr Jaschick, Mr Jenkins, Mr Kamizolas, Mr Kirschen, Mr Kitsios, Mr 
Maddocks, Mr Masucci, Mr Meraviglia, Mr Milne, Mr Mols Sorensen, Mr Morselli, Mr Mourgues, Mrs 
Nielsen M., Mr Nielsen P., Mr Nierhaus, Mr Ognibene, Mr Pronk, Mr Querleux, Mr Raftopoulos, Mr 
Rainero, Mrs Rangoni-Machiavelli, Mr van Rens, Mr Roseingrave, Mr Saiu, Mr Schoepges, Mr Soulat, 
Mr Spijkers, Mrs Strobel, Mr Tixier, Mr Vassilaras, Mr Vercellino, Mrs Weber, Mr Zoli. 
The following members (voting in person or through their replacements) were against the opinion: 
Mrs Bredima, Mr De Bievre, Mr Dracos, Mr Fortuyn, Mr Fuller, Mr Noordwal, Mr Pearson, Mr Pelle-
tier, Mr Wagner, Mr de Witt. 
The following members (voting in person or through their replacements) abstained: 
Mr Antonsen, Mr Binnenbruck, Mr Bos, Mr Breitenstein, Mr Broicher, Mr Cammann, Mr Campbell, 
Mr Ceyrac, Mr Hannon, Mr Hemmer, Mr Kiibler, Mr Law, Mr Low, Mr Margot, Mr Marvier, Mr 
Masprone, Mr de Normann, Mr Paggi, Mr Plank, Mr Regaldo, Mr Romoli, Mr Schnieders, Mr Stahl-
mann, Mr Staratzke, Mr Storie-Pugh, Mr Swift, Mr Tamlin, Mr Wick, Mr Zinkin. 
APPENDIX 2 
Changes resulting from the adoption of amendments: 
The following texts of the Section's Opinion have been modified following the acceptance of amend­
ments proposed during the debate: 
Point 2.2, second indent 
'— Immigrants who are lawfully established must be guaranteed right of residence.' 
Result of the vote 
For: majority. Against: 6. Abstentions: 2. 
Point 2.2, third indent, second sentence 
'— A first step would be to grant this right to EEC migrants in local elections.' 
Result of the vote 
For: 44. Against: 36. Abstentions: 16. 
Point 2.6, first sentence 
'— A European housing fund should be set up to help organize the proposed urban renovation 
work.' 
Accepted by the rapporteur.