Migrant crisis looms large as Council of Europe parliamentary session opens

"We need to work harder, to bring about an effective, comprehensive and holistic migration policy," declared Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, on Monday during the opening sitting of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.

The President's address signaled the beginning of a week that will see parliamentarians try to tackle the growing migration problem facing Council of Europe (CoE) member states and especially the so-called "frontline" countries, such as Malta, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey.

Speaking on the issue of human trafficking that contributes to migration levels, the President was direct: "Frankly speaking, I personally think, that we, as an international community, have been quite passive for much to long in the face of such criminal activity."

PACE President Anne Brasseur, in her opening address to the assembly, revealed, however, the migration problems facing Europe were daunting.

"More than 50 million people were displaced by war and violence in 2014," President Brasseur declared, citing the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres as having estimated that number reaching over 60 million in 2015.

"We must share - in a fair manner - the responsibility for providing for the refugees, so that they can enjoy dignity and have hope for the future," she added.

The summer PACE session will also feature an address on Tuesday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and by the Chairman of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic on Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was originally scheduled to address the assembly on Tuesday, but will not be able to attend. In a Monday press conference President Brasseur indicated that Prime Minister Tsipras was unable to come because of high-level meetings in Brussels related to the Greek debt situation.

Another major concern of PACE summer session will be increased protection for whistle-blowers, including a general assembly debate on Tuesday, as well as a live video conference with American whistle-blower Edward Snowden. The former intelligence analyst is expected to comment on the outcomes of tomorrow's debate procedure, having provided evidence during an investigative hearing last year, which ultimately led to the draft resolution under consideration.

A debate will also be held on Wednesday regarding the review of the credentials of the Russian delegation to PACE, with Russia having been suspended from voting rights in January following the annexation of Crimea and tensions in the east of Ukraine. The PACE Bureau will recommend to continue sanctions against the Russian delegation without annulling its credentials, but the final decision will depend on the outcome of the debate procedure.

The parliamentary session will run from Monday, June 22nd until Friday, June 26th, and involves delegations from the 47 member states of the CoE, besides Russia, who has withdrawn its delegation from PACE since sanctions were imposed in January. Endit