5th October 2010

Migration & IPU: An Opportunity for Global Political Leadership

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Inter-parliamentary Union, 123rd Assembly Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, October 5, 2010

Introduction

: I would like to thank your Secretary General, Anders Johnsson, and IPU, for their invitation to participate in this special panel session.

: I must say, that being in this auditorium, full of Parliamentarians, brings back some very fond memories of my own political days in Canada and my time spent in its majestic Parliament.

: I am particularly pleased to discuss with you the issue of migration, which has always been close to me — personally, politically and professionally.

: I would like to focus my remarks this morning on a single issue; namely: how governments and parliamentarians approach and respond to an issue which is attracting huge public interest.

: In addressing this theme, let me touch on 4 points.

Global Migration is already Here!

First, the issue of migration is a powerful and unmistakable sign of our globalized times.

: The international movement and migration of peoples has become prolific in recent years, and it is on the political radar screens of all your countries and parliaments.

: And it’s not about to go away.

: In fact, all the signs promise that it will only intensify:

ü Migration already touches all lands and all peoples. The old notion of ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ countries has been overtaken. Globalization has now ensured that migrants leave, enter, or transit through all nations — big and small, rich and poor. Human mobility is South-North; North-South, and increasingly, South-South.

ü In addition, as the integration of national economic markets meld into a single global one, this places ever-greater pressures on the need for effective, global labor mobility.

-  And regrettably, we live in a world where man-made crises and tragedies of Mother Nature combine to only increase and ‘aggravate’ human mobility, within and across national borders.

: So we cannot escape its reality — migration is indeed a global phenomenon.

: It also represents a globally complex policy web.

: Today, migration embraces and impacts a multiplicity of other important policy dossiers that confront parliamentarians the world over, including economic, labour, cultural, linguistic, social, human rights, accreditation, international relations and integration-related questions.

: All told, migration’s global reach is an impressive one.

: This serves to underscore the fact, that in tackling international problems, one cannot talk about the forces of international trade and investment, nor the challenges of world hunger, disease and terrorism, nor the dangers posed by climate change, nor indeed, about global migration and development—and then proceed to deal with them in a piecemeal, isolated fashion.

: We must do better. We must connect the dots.

National Responses Rule

Second, despite migration’s extensive global dimension, thus far, the response by governments has largely been national in scope.

: In our new world order, “going it alone” is fast becoming the exception; the old way of doing business.

: Cross border issues tend to attract the interest and cooperation of a host of governments and institutions, sometimes universally so; sharing both burdens and opportunities, all in an effort to develop and enforce more effective public policies.

: Matters of international trade, labor, health, human rights, security, intellectual property, climate, for example, are all managed by some form of global governance.

: The imperative to act in a collaborative and coherent fashion has become painfully evident. Indeed, the response to the current global financial and economic crisis—the establishment of the G‐20 — perhaps best typifies the paradigm shift that needs to take place in political governance.

: Yet, migration is a glaring exception to the rule.

: While there has been a recent increase in transnational efforts by governments, international organizations and civil society, when it comes to migration, the political buck stops with national governments.

: But, are such strategies viable for today’s world? Do they adequately address the realities of human mobility, or do they now act more like straight-jackets?

: Do these strategies expand our options with which to address this phenomenon on a truly global level, or do they narrow our policy toolbox?
: Not only are the answers rather obvious but quite frankly, the status quo is unsustainable.

: Global forces cannot be addressed by national policies alone, for they will always fall short.

: They need to be augmented by an international resolve and approach.

All Politics is Local but….

Thirdly, the status quo is largely dictated by one of the basic ‘laws’ of politics — namely, that all politics is local.

: True enough. Been there, done that.

: Moreover, migration happens to be a ‘hot’ issue. It packs a huge emotional punch, and its impact is being felt in political jurisdictions around the world, as well as shaping civic movements and actions.

: So, there has been an understandable desire to keep a local and tight control on migration decision-making.

: And yet, all our countries are charter members of our global village.
: The contradiction and challenge before us — is how should we then practise politics in that global village?

: From my standpoint, efforts in establishing an international framework are long overdue.

: And this is not principally about national governments ceding or losing political authority.

: The reality is — rightly or wrongly — that under an accelerating era of globalization, employers, migrant networks, agents, individual migrants, and yes, smugglers, have already taken things into their own hands, irrespective of national policies on admission and border control.

: And while governments may have won a number of battles against unauthorized migration, there is the much larger, ongoing ‘war’ for better control of who enters, leaves, transits, and remains in our territories.

: Indeed, how did millions upon millions of undocumented individuals, enter our different countries in the first place? And why and how does this movement continue?

: In other words, an improved migration management internationally — one that shares both the opportunities and challenges — is really about countries and governments reclaiming political sovereignty and control, and exercising it collectively — to the advantage of individual States, citizens, and migrants alike.

: Furthermore, building new governance measures is not the challenge or obligation for just some governments, or for that matter, the well-to-do nations.

: For these measures to succeed, the approach must be inclusive. All nations should take part.

: After all, the new face of human mobility provides all countries a vested interest (and I would also say, an obligation) to develop a coherent international response.

Bettering Migration Governance & Politics

: Furthermore, adopting and implementing an international approach would not only enhance the governance of migration, but I also believe that it would make for a more constructive brand of migration politics.
: I say that, because when national measures fall short in confronting a force which is part of a much broader, international context, many citizens feel overwhelmed and react with frustration and anger.

: In other words, a new national law or regulation is no guarantee that the next boat of “illegal” migrants will be prevented from arriving on our shores.

: In the important ‘game’ of public expectations — which is central to any political success — policy failures undermine peoples’ confidence in the ‘system’. And this is bad news for the local politicians since the target of citizens’ anxieties are also local.

: Now, I realize that there are no global guarantees, either.

: However, in addressing the legitimate public demands for a more effective management of migration pressures, would it not be better for national governments and parliaments to state that they are not fighting and standing alone?

ü That all countries are cooperating with one another.

ü That their national response is part of a coordinated and concerted international strategy.

ü And that as a result, this action stands a greater chance of success.

: In this scenario, would local electors not be more reassured? Would voters not be ‘happier’ — or is that an oxymoron?!

: Seriously, I appreciate that in politics, parliamentarians need to move with the times. But, there is also an onus to govern for the times.

Moving Forward in IPU

: Finally, I would encourage you and your IPU colleagues to consider how you could advance the political discourse on the matter of migration governance/management to the next stage.

: I do not underestimate for one moment, the formidable task that migration policy and decision-making represents. I never have, whether as a Canadian MP, or as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, or as Ambassador to the UN, or as a Commissioner on the UN Global Commission on International Migration.

: To be sure, we need to think and act prudently.

: But, I believe that IPU is ideally positioned;

ü It provides an important international political space, where all political voices and views can be fully aired, and where political common ground can be pursued and found.

ü IPU also has a track record of interest and engagement on migration policy, with your resolutions that dates back to your 113th Assembly.

: The central question, therefore, is how to incrementally and realistically build on this foundation?

: For example;

ü Can a working group of interested IPU Parliamentarians, including Members of Parliamentary Committees that oversee migration legislation and Parliamentary Secretaries to Ministers responsible for migration, be formed to consider this issue in greater detail, and develop a set of recommendations?
ü Can such a group attempt to evaluate and untangle some of the central conundrums?

- How can national governments complement their strictly national responses with an international framework?

- How and in what policy areas, can governments, multilateral agencies, and civil society strengthen their collaboration and cooperation?

- What are the essential elements that would define and anchor any international framework? And in this framework, how and where can governments retain national flexibilities?

- And what role can parliamentarians play, especially in relation to constructively dealing with public opinion and reactions?

ü On a more pedestrian track, can such a group encourage and perhaps host an initial retreat of Ministers responsible for migration — from both developing and developed countries — so that they may have an opportunity of sharing experiences and participating in joint problem-solving?

- When I was Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in 1993, there was not a single, regular meeting in any calendar year, when one could look forward to conferring with Ministerial colleagues from around the globe, in order to discuss the political issues of the day —innovative legislation; better regulations; cooperation with civil society; integration efforts; contemplate collective actions and initiatives; etc.

- The bad news is that seventeen years later, this is still the case!

- Is it not time, especially given the historic sea-changes that have taken place, to build opportunities for Ministers of Migration to caucus regularly?

: These are just but a few ideas which, I think, demonstrate the considerable scope for IPU to potentially accomplish some ground-breaking work in this area.

In Closing

: In closing, I believe that migration remains largely an opportunity — for both migrants and nations.

: Migrants are dreamers and entrepreneurs. They often risk everything for a different and better life.

: And in turn, their diversity of ideas, experiences, and energies help to renew societies.

: But as a deeply emotional reality, migration also packs fears and perceptions that create anxieties for citizens of all backgrounds, in all our lands.

: For all of these reasons and contradictions, IPU can help bring political leaders, governments, and parliaments closer together.

ü To help them through this policy and political challenge.

ü To help them retain and reinforce what is working well.

ü To help them find the political will to rethink and rebuild, where new realities demand it.

ü To help them get right, the international politics of the issue.

: To help, in effect, marshal the global vision and leadership that global migration demands.

: Thank you.

§ Ambassador Sergio Marchi is a Senior Fellow, with the Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, in Geneva. He formerly served as a Canadian Member of Parliament for 15 years, including as Minister for Citizenship and Immigration. He was also Canadian Ambassador to the UN and WTO in Geneva; and a Commissioner on the UN Global Commission on International Migration.
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