Commission welcomes the Council of Europe declaration on migration

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Commission welcomes the political declaration on migration adopted today by the Council of Europe, at the Ministerial conference in Chișinău. The declaration highlights the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights and the values underpinning the Council of Europe, which are shared values in the EU.

The declaration addresses several key topics in the context of migration management, including illegal arrivals, the instrumentalisation of migration, and the return of illegally staying third-country nationals, with the aim of promoting a fair balance between the general public interest and the protection of the individual’s fundamental rights. The declaration reiterates that the Convention is a living instrument, which needs to be interpreted in the light of present-day realities to remain applicable in response to novel challenges. This is in line with the Commission’s efforts on new approaches to manage migration.   

Protecting the security of our societies and borders, and staying true to our values, are at the centre of EU’s migration policies, reflected in the common framework set by the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The alignment in the approaches taken to tackle those common challenges is welcomed by the Commission.

The Commission highly values its long-standing partnership with the Council of Europe and shares the strong commitment to promote peace, democracy, rule of law and human rights across the continent. The Commission reaffirms its strategic alignment with the Council of Europe.

Building on today’s declaration, the Commission remains ready to work constructively with the Council of Europe and with Member States to meet current and future challenges in the field of migration.

Background

The participants in the Informal Ministerial Conference at the Council of Europe of 10 December 2025 invited the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to prepare the declaration. The Declaration is adopted today by the Committee of Ministers under the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova. The Commission supported the conclusions put forward by the Council of Europe on 10 December 2025, based on the four-point plan presented by its Secretary-General.

Furthermore, the Commission fully subscribes to the need to step up our fight against migrant smuggling as evidenced in the International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in December 2025.

The Commission will continue to closely follow the work of the Council of Europe on a recommendation deterring and fighting the smuggling of migrants.

For more information

Pact on Migration and Asylum

Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling