Tal
Rosenbad, Stockholm 16 mars 2009
Tobias Billström, Migrationsminister
(Minna Ljunggren, Statssekreterare)

Tal vid konferensen Migration, Diasporas and Development: Trans-Atlantic Perspectives i Stockholm på engelska

Talet "Migration and development: national perspectives" hölls av statssekreterare Minna Ljunggren, Stockholm 16 mars 2009.

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Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me begin by thanking the Nordic Africa Institute for hosting this workshop on the timely and important issue of migration, Diasporas and development. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to contribute to today's discussion, and I am very pleased to see that the Nordic Africa Institute and Georgetown University have worked together in organizing this workshop. A transatlantic exchange of experiences and perspectives is indeed very welcome, as we have a great deal to learn from one another. I would like to take this opportunity to speak about Sweden's commitment to these issues. I would also like to focus on the work being done within the EU in this area, particularly with regard to collaboration with the African region.

The issue of international migration and development has risen to the top of the global policy agenda, and rightly so. Migration is truly an international and interconnected issue, and over the past few years the international community has intensified its efforts to better understand and promote the positive development potential of migration and to minimize its potential negative effects. Sweden has played an active role in these efforts, and we were one of the countries that took the initiative in establishing the Global Commission on International Migration. Sweden has also participated actively in and given financial support to the meetings of the Global Forum on Migration and Development.

The development potential of migration is truly great - but is also to a large extent dependent on the existence of an environment that enables migrants to invest in development; for themselves, their families and their communities. By considering migration as an integral part of the national agenda for development and poverty reduction of countries of origin, an important step is taken towards ensuring that individuals and families migrate out of choice rather than necessity.

Greater policy coherence is indeed key in addressing the issues we are discussing today. Policy coherence involves considering the real or potential impacts of a range of other policy areas - including migration - on development and on migratory flows, and promoting their synergies. This may include supporting Diaspora groups' development efforts in their countries of origin or increasing the development effects of remittances, for example.

Last year, my government signalled in a Communication a new departure for its work on Policy Coherence for Development. In this Communication, migration is identified as one of six global challenges which must be addressed to achieve the goal of equitable and sustainable global development and concrete ways are identified to strengthen Sweden's contribution to this goal. The entire Government shares the ownership and responsibility for implementing this policy. If the development benefits of international migration are to be maximized and the negative consequences minimized, coherent policy decisions, approaches and actions are crucial.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
All stakeholders stand to gain from well managed migration - countries of origin and destination as well as the migrants themselves. The migration and development nexus is one of the most important areas of cooperation between Europe and Africa in order to reap the benefits of an increasingly globalised world. The EU has intensified its cooperation with Africa in the past few years in order to explore and develop new and innovative ways to maximize the positive effects of migration for the benefit of both African and European states and for individual migrants and their families. This cooperation has contributed to bringing the two regions closer together politically, economically and culturally. An important stepping stone was the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in 2007, establishing the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership.

Countries of destination, in particular those in Europe, need to acknowledge the existing short term and long term needs for labour immigration in order to meet the current and future demands of labour markets and economies. A key challenge for Governments is therefore to create expanded opportunities for legal migration by developing flexible legislation through which the needs of labour markets can be met and through which migrants can realize their potential. The EU has taken important steps towards opening up the European labour market to third country nationals in the last few years, as well as towards mainstreaming the status and social rights of migrants in different member states.

In Sweden - just over three months ago - new rules for labour migration to Sweden entered into force. Through this reform, Sweden has created what we believe is one of the most flexible and efficient systems for labour migration in the world today. It is entirely demand driven and it welcomes labour migrants of all skills levels. Our reform is designed to create a more efficient and flexible system which will make it easier for people to come to Sweden to work, and for Swedish companies to recruit labour from outside Europe. In contrast to many of the EU's Member States, Sweden has adopted a non-sectoral and general approach to labour migration, meaning that we do not have particular schemes, bilateral agreements, or quotas targeting particular groups of migrants.

Even as we face a global economic crisis, global migration should not be viewed as part of the problem, but rather as part of the solution. The reversal of international migration and remittance flows that we are currently witnessing will undoubtedly have serious consequences for many countries, but this should not divert our attention from the importance of cooperating on migration and development issues. On the contrary, as the honorable Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, stated at the second meeting of the Global Forum in Manila this past October, "...migration can and should be a tool to help lift us out of this economic crisis... Human mobility makes our economies more efficient, even when they are not growing, and by making sure that the rights skills can reach the right places at the right time."

Indeed, there are labour shortages in some sectors of the labour market that cannot be filled by people living in Sweden or other EU citizens. We must also recognize that our population is ageing as a whole, and that fewer and fewer people of working age will have to support an increasing percentage of the population in the years to come. This may threaten economic growth and the sustainability of our welfare system in the long term. Of course, we acknowledge that labour migration is only one of several instruments needed to prevent labour shortages in the short and long-term. But it is certainly an important complement to measures which aim to utilize the labour already in the country.

Ladies and gentlemen,
When discussing issues related to migration and its development effects, we must also be aware of the fact that migration patterns have changed. There is evidence that shows that the old paradigm of migration for permanent settlement is increasingly giving way to more temporary and circular migration. The development potential of circular migration can be substantial, given the right conditions. As global mobility increases as a natural consequence of globalization and economic interdependence, the creation of flexible legislation for migrants resident permits is necessary, in order to facilitate temporary return to countries of origin.

Portable social benefits, such as pensions, are also key in facilitating voluntary return to countries of origin in order to contribute to development through skills transfer, investments and the establishment of international academic and professional networks. Countries of origin, on the other hand, must take seriously their responsibility for the development of banking and micro-finance systems and investment possibilities for remittances, as well as their commitment to pursuing pro-poor economic growth policies, democratic governance and respect for human rights. All of these measures can contribute to making return a viable option for migrants.

However, members of Diaspora groups do not necessarily have to return to their country of origin in order to contribute to its development. Many migrants have initiated projects in their country of destination that are designed to foster development in their country of origin. Governments have an important role in supporting these initiatives. For example, the Government of Sweden supports pilot projects by the Swedish Fund for Industrial Cooperation with Developing Countries - or Swedfund for short - that aim to promote investments in developing countries. The projects are initiated by Swedish entrepreneurs with immigrant backgrounds.

Let me conclude by saying a few words about the upcoming Swedish presidency of the EU during the fall of 2009. We will continue to prioritize the issue of migration and development. We will also ensure that the forms of cooperation that have developed between the EU and Africa will remain high on the political agenda. These include the Rabat process as well as the Migration, Mobility and Employment Partnership, agreed to at the EU-African summit in Lisbon in December 2007 and which incorporates the Tripoli process. Only through genuine dialogue, cooperation and partnership with third countries, and in particular African States, will the EU be able to build a solid foundation to harness the positive effects that migration can have on development.

Thank you.