Together with EZA, the IPCM co-organised a European seminar on immigration in the city of Melilla (Spain), on 23-26 February 2017.

Its members visited the city and became acquainted with its culture, the border fence, the passage of vehicles and pedestrians across the border and the CETI (Temporary accommodation centre for immigrants).

As a result, the IPCM:

Acknowledges with satisfaction the efforts of the people and authorities of Melilla to build a city that is a model of coexistence and social cohesion in a society characterised by cultural and religious diversity.

Appreciates the complex work of the Spanish authorities on this land border of the EU, across which 40,000 people pass daily, freely and in a normal way. It also values ??the work of reception and identification of refugees and immigrants, security and good neighbourliness with Morocco.

Strongly reaffirms the need to achieve a common European immigration and asylum policy, which would give consistent answers to the challenges presented and analysed at this seminar, with particular reference to Spain, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Italy and France.

Calls on authorities and individuals to reinforce development cooperation generously, in particular through NGOs, in order to contribute to improving living conditions for people in their countries of origin.

Strongly supports human development, human rights, the right to emigrate and not to, international law and good international relations.

Calls for greater respect and care for people arriving from distant locations, even if they are in a situation of illegality or lack of documentation; and calls for firm reinforcement of the fight against trafficking in human beings and other threats to life and dignity.

Sincerely thanks EZA for its co-organisation, EZA, the European Union for its funding and the technical organisation dept. of Humanism and Democracy (H+D). It also gratefully acknowledges the hospitality and cordiality of the city of Melilla, received through the local and state authorities, representatives of cultural or religious communities, and the special attention of the media.

With these words, the President of the European Centre for Workers' Affairs (EZA), the former Dutch MEP, Bartho Pronk, recognised the importance of the good migration management by the Spanish authorities in Melilla, as opposed to a chaotic situation reigning in other European countries. These declarations were made after his visit to the Temporary Accommodation Centre for Immigrants in Melilla (CETI in its Spanish acronym) and the perimeter of the Spanish-Moroccan border.

The seminar Migration phenomena and EU migration policy: an analytical reflection and perspectives within the European Social Dialogue (see programme) brought together representatives of nine European countries in Melilla.

This was organised by the International Platform for Cooperation and Migration - IPCM - in collaboration with H+D and the  Melilla Culture dept., on 24 and 25 February. The seminar was funded by the European Union and the European Centre for Workers' Affairs (EZA).

On the occasion of International Migrants' Day, the International Platform for Cooperation and Migration (IPCM) wishes to express the following:

1. The IPCM calls for a calm, cool look at the analysis of migratory phenomena, which provide multiple opportunities and situations both inside and outside the EU.
2. It calls for greater cultural and educational assistance for migrants of all ages, taking specific measures, in view of the fact that we face the great challenge of increasing ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity in our countries.
3. It emphasizes the important work of direct assistance to immigrants provided by social organisations, which deserve the support of public administration and European institutions for their role in supporting social cohesion.
4. It defends the dignity of all people and their individual rights and freedoms, which must be safeguarded against existing threats.
5. It considers that trade unions and other workers' organisations have a great responsibility in opening up to foreigners, welcoming migrant workers and combatting xenophobic ideologies.
6. It invites IPCM member organisations and the general public to join International Migrants' Day on 18 December.

In Marseilles, 3 December, 2016