This
final report is based upon the
various meetings held with national and provincial authorities
of China and other government officials from the 4th
to 15th of June 2001
CONTENTS
1. CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION
• CONTEXT OF THE MISSION
• OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION
2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED
• MISCELLANEOUS REASONS OF THE ILLEGAL MIGRATION IN
CHINA
• DIFFERENT WAYS AND MEANS FOLLOWED
3.
CHINESE LEGISLATION AND MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION
• CHINESE LEGISLATION AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION
• APPROPRIATE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
4.
VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS AND PARTNERS TO BE CONSIDERED
• DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND PARTNERS OF CAMPAING
• WAYS AND MEANS TO BE CONSIDERED
5. CHINESE AUTHORITIES’ UNDERSTANDING AND REACTIONS
ON THE ISSUE
• OBSERVATIONS AT A PROVINCIAL LEVEL
• OBSERVATIONS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
6.
CHINESE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
• CHINESE AUTHORITIES' INTERESTS
• POTENTIAL EUROPEAN UNION ANSWERS TO THE CHINESE EXPECTATIONS
7.
EUROPEAN UNION ADDED VALUE AND CONDITIONS FOR A PROJECT
• EUROPEAN UNION'S ADDED VALUE
• CONDITIONS FOR A PROJECT ACHIEVEMENT AND RE-ACHIEVEMENT
8.
Dr Pierre PICQUART FINAL OBSERVATIONS
• GENERAL ASSESSMENT
• ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBLE IMPACT
• OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT
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1. CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION
•
CONTEXT OF THE MISSION
Following
the Dover tragedy in May 2000, in which 58 illegal Chinese
migrants died and the agreements between China's Prime
Minister Zhu and President Prodi in July 2000, it was
jointly decided by China and European Union authorities
to call upon international meetings in order to seek
and find the efficient ways and means to prevent and
combat illegal migration, false document issuing and
human being traffic in China.
It was
in this framework that a delegation of Chinese experts
visited the European Commission on October 13th, 2000.
In return, a second meeting was held between a European
Union delegation and China's authorities in Beijing
on February 20th, 2001 during which the undertaking
of a possible information campaign against illegal migration,
false document issuing and human being traffic were
discussed.
It is
then in this context of co-operation that in June 2001
Dr Pierre Picquart had high level consultations and
side-meetings with the national and provincial Chinese
authorities, to discuss about a possible information
campaign at a national level and/or in the four key-provinces
of China (Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong)
mainly concerned by the above-mentioned problems identified.
The
high level consultations in Beijing with China's central
government authorities (the ministry of Foreign Affairs)
on the 5th and 15th days of June 2001, and also with
the local government authorities of the four key-provinces
were held in a good and friendly atmosphere. Let us
note that the meetings with the Chinese national delegation
was headed by Mrs. Lu, Deputy Director of the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Moreover,
in addition to the helpful daily co-ordination briefings,
side-meetings were held in Beijing and the four key-provinces
with EU Member States, a few associate countries (Australia,
Canada, Japan, the US, Turkey), the Ipsos Group representative,
Mrs Shen Ying (on the media advertising in China), and
the Chinese as well as overseas journalists (having
worked on illegal migration in China) in order to share
and exchange on-the-ground experiences. Further to the
meetings, the EU delegation visited a detention camp
for illegal migrants (the Tingjiang Detention Centre)
and the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau
(the Chinese Bureau of Passport issuing).
Following
all the previous high level meetings and this last mission
in China, a third Sino-Eu summit had been planned in
Brussels, which would be held by the end of the year
2001, in order to have an in-depth exchange with the
Chinese authorities on issues of mutual interest.
•
OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION in 2001
To engage
in a positive way and to integrate China further in
the international global community and to support its
transition towards a more open modern society two fundamental
objectives were to be reached:
- First,
to determine the feasibility of an information campaign
in China jointly undertaken by the European Union and
China against illegal migration to/in Europe, false
document issuing, unlawful use of legal documents, human
being traffic, the instigators and "snakehead"
gangs.
- Second,
to assess the possibility to launch an identification
mission at a national level or/and in the four key-provinces
which are the main sources of the influx of illegal
migrants.
The
Dr Pierre Picquart mission was also aimed at:
• Understanding
the real causes of the above-mentioned problems identified;
• Obtaining essential information about the Chinese
legislation concerned, practical measures already taken,
and their impact in order to prevent and combat those
problems;
• Determining the different approaches for the pursuit
and strengthening of the prior struggle against those
illegal issues;
• Assessing the different information campaigns to be
considered and the European Union added-value;
• Identifying the expectations and the reactions of
the Chinese authorities, as well as the potential actions
of the European Community;
• Assessing the project in a global perspective and
view;
• Setting the operational conditions for launching an
information campaign in China.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE
PROBLEM IDENTIFIED
•
MISCELLANEOUS REASONS OF THE ILLEGAL MIGRATION IN CHINA
Today,
around 150,000 to 200,000 illegal migrants are living
in the fifteen countries of the European Community,
for such miscellaneous reasons as economic, socio-cultural
and political ones. Even though the Chinese migration
to Europe is relatively recent (19th - 20th centuries),
this phenomenon has been increasingly intensifying over
the last 30 years.
The
economic reasons for the illegal migration of Chinese
people are explained by the closing down of factories
in the north-east provinces of China (Liaoning, Jilin,
Heilongjiang) and in Hebei; which leads to the unemployment
of a lot of people such as workers, engineers…. Also
it is explained by the striking contrast between some
areas of poverty and other south-east provinces with
an extraordinary growth. Besides, because of the opening
of the Chinese economy, new migrants have been coming
to Europe for about 20 years, more and more attracted
by the miscellaneous opportunities in the western countries.
Concerning
the sociocultural reasons, the migration from the south-east
regions (especially from Zhejiang province) is more
and more growing due to the new routes discovered and
the assistance brought by the families and relatives
of the migrants settled down in European countries since
years. These migrants are very often young men and women,
people with low education, workers and also students.
They represent about 60 to 65 % of the newcomers in
the European Union.
Although
a lot of Chinese people have been seeking political
asylum in the European Union, the migration for real
political reasons is not so developed as for economic
and socio-cultural ones. As a matter of fact among the
political migrants, a great number of them are rather
economic and social migrants who take advantage of the
political asylum procedures to get the situations sorted
out and the papers in order. To illustrate this situation
let us consider the following example: in France, especially
in Paris, part of the newcomers seek political asylum
upon their arrival. Over the last two years Chinese
people have been considered as the top group of political
asylum applicants. In 1998, the monthly average of 173
applicants for asylum in Paris (2,082 applicants a year)
amounted to 428 in 1999 (5,139 applicants a year) and
to 435 in 2000. Nevertheless, today less than 3 % of
the applications are accepted by the French authorities.
•
DIFFERENT WAYS AND MEANS FOLLOWED
Beyond
the economic, socio-cultural and political reasons that
explain the illegal immigration, it is also important
to consider or lay the emphasis upon the miscellaneous
and complex ways and means used by the migrants to reach
their destinations. Actually, they usually go through
complicated routes using either legal and valid documents
or false papers. For instance, they leave China to European
countries (their final destinations) going through different
countries of Europe, South Asia, Africa or Latin America...
Moreover,
most of them leave their country with valid visas (tourist
visa, student visa, or business visa…) to European countries,
but some of them, very often the poorest, are helped
by the "snakeheads" who have networks all
over the world. These traffickers provide them with
false papers or official documents and means of transportation
in exchange of money.
On the
basis of Dr Pierre Picquart inquiries in Europe and
China, of his meetings with European and Chinese political
and economical leaders, and of statistical data (especially
those from OFPRA, the embassies, the Chinese administration…),
he drew up a map showing the main routes through which
they usually go in Europe.
Eventually,
given the complexity of the problem identified, it is
rather difficult to properly understand all the strategies
used by the illegal migrants and traffickers. That is
the reason why it is worth jointly undertaking an information
campaign to combat those situations. But before, it
seems necessary to get an idea of the Chinese legislation
and already taken measures against illegal migration
and other unlawful practices.
3. CHINESE LEGISLATION AND MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL
MIGRATION
The
Chinese authorities have already started achieving a
lot of efforts in this field such as harder
suitable legislation, information campaigns, struggle
against false documents, border and frontier controls,
arrests of "snakeheads" and "would-be
migrants"…
•
CHINESE LEGISLATION AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION
Since
1997 the Chinese legislation has been hardening the
penalties incurred by the illegal emigrants and the
human being traffickers. The new laws adopted by the
government officials against illegal migration and the
duration of detention and confinement are becoming more
and more severe and drastic.
- Actually
six years ago traffickers, dealers and "snakeheads"
copped at most 5-year imprisonment, whereas today they
cop from two years' imprisonment till life sentence.
Let us notice that they are compulsorily sentenced to
death in case any migrant came to die.
- Also today, their accomplices are sentenced till ten-year
imprisonment whereas they passed only one year detention
six years ago.
- As far as the illegal migrants themselves are concerned,
they could cop at least 15 days of confinement likely
to reach one-year imprisonment.
For
example, during my visit to the Tingjiang Detention
Centre, I had the opportunity to discuss with several
prisoners well treated and educated. All of them were
some young people in search for money and better living
conditions that they had been expecting to find in European
countries. They also confirmed that they had already
partially paid the traffickers for the travel costs
which were no more refundable. This category of young
people represents the ideal social class, targeted by
traffickers and "snakeheads"; particularly
hairdressers, sellers and workers earning about 61 Euro
per month.
• APPROPRIATE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES
-
Information campaigns
The
Chinese authorities declared that they had been carrying
out important information campaigns at a national level
and in the four key-provinces and were satisfied enough
with the results. Although Dr Pierre Picquart thinks
that the European Union have to be very cautious to
assess whether their contribution could be helpful.
Further
to the different meetings and consultations with the
Chinese government authorities, it seems obvious that
they have been undertaking an arsenal of efforts and
measures to dissuade Chinese people from all attempts
of illegal migration (through TV and radio
advertising, broadcasting, posters and law reinforcement).
Nevertheless, the European Union's information and contribution
could bring further useful details.
Actually
during the visit to the Guangdong Provincial Public
Security Bureau, Dr Pierre Picquart noticed
that new precautions have been undertaking in the issuing
of new passports such as the scanning of identity photographs
and the setting of a protective film to avoid any falsification.
Besides the Chinese authorities have been trying to
arrest "snakeheads", traffickers and "would-be
migrants" for a few years. These are a few statistical
data as reported in News Media's.
Arrest
of Snakeheads and Would-be Migrants by Chinese Authorities
(1991-1994)
Date |
Place |
No.
Snakeheads |
No.
Would-be migrants |
May
1991 |
Fuzhou |
14 |
Unknown |
Apr.
1992 |
Guangzhou
|
12 |
150 |
Nov.
1992 |
Fuzhou |
04
|
62 |
Apr.
1993 |
Fuzhou |
0
|
157 |
| Jul.
1993 |
Fuzhou |
76
(a) |
Unknown |
Aug.
1993 |
Guangdong
|
12 |
139 |
Nov.
1993 |
Fuzhou |
01
|
151 |
Nov.
1993 |
Guangzhou |
0 |
32 |
Dec.
1993 |
Lianjiang |
01
|
76 |
Jun.
1994 |
Fuzhou |
31
(b) |
Unknown |
Jun.
1994 |
Whenzhou |
0 |
72 |
| (a)
22 defendants were sentenced to jail for one to
five years and forty-four were sent to
re-education through labour camps.
|
| (b)
5 defendants received prison terms of 5 years
or more, 16 were sentenced to 2 to 4 and
a half years, and 10 to less than one and a half
years. |
- Various controls and preventive measures
In
order to lead its populations to a public awareness
of the miscellaneous dangers of illegal migration, the
Chinese government officials undertook three fundamental
preventive measures which are the following:
- The first one was to call upon a public meeting at
which the dangers of illegal emigration would be stated
and explained;
- The second one consisted in condemning and criticising
illegal emigration ;
- The third and the last one was to increase coastal
and border patrols in order to break up the gangs and
the traffickers' networks organising human being traffic
and to arrest the "Snakeheads" for detention,
confinement and even execution.
-
Impact of the Chinese legislation and miscellaneous
measures
The
Chinese national and provincial authorities were relatively
satisfied by the results of the information campaigns,
various controls and preventive measures because of
the sensitive dropping in the number of illegal migrants.
They also wished to pursue their efforts although the
means used are not really efficient enough.
Taking into account the Chinese legislation and the
miscellaneous measures taken by the government officials
against illegal migration and the other unlawful practices
on the one hand, as well as the inadequacy and restrictions
of those measures on the other hand, what kinds of approaches
could the European Union elaborate and carry out in
the framework of the structural co-operation with our
partners in China?
4.
VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS AND PARTNERS TO BE CONSIDERED
Several
patterns of campaign could be considered, but their
efficiency depends on the way in which they should be
led or conducted.
•
DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND PARTNERS OF CAMPAIGN
Four
different patterns of campaign could be considered and
these are explained as follows:
a) One-year
test campaigns in the Province of Fujian
b) A
three years' campaign in the four key provinces
c) Campaigns
through Consular and diplomatic representations
d) Campaigns
through international institutions outside China : Chinese
Overseas.
This fourth pattern of campaigns could not be
led without the Chinese authorities' agreements and
need the authorisation of the Chinese authorities in
a largest campaign concerning their nationals.Tthe
success and efficiency of those above explained campaigns
depend above all on the ways and means (adequate messages,
targeted groups…) used.
•
WAYS AND MEANS TO BE CONSIDERED
Three
main ways and means are to be considered, which are
the following: target groups, messages and the means
used.
- Target
groups: The targeted groups should be considered according
to each province; but in reality, it is noticed that
they present almost the same characteristics in the
provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian, whereas
they are different in Liaoning province. That is the
reason why I have divided them into two main categories:
• First
category of targeted groups:
The
first category of targeted groups consists of people
from the Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and
which are the most concerned and involved in the illegal
migration and are victims of snakeheads' unlawful practices.
These are: students, young people, women (who are sometimes
employed by prostitution networks in Europe) and poor
people coming from the villages neighbouring the big
towns. A lot of their families and relatives have settled
in Europe for almost a century and more and have been
even organised in networks.
That
is the reason why a lot of people from the same regions
and backgrounds head for Europe. From that time on,
they benefit from the cultural values of Chinese communities
such as: solidarity, mutual assistance, brotherhood,
friendship, financial support… Note that such Chinese
settlements and networks can be found throughout the
world.
• Second category of targeted groups:
The
second category of targeted groups consists essentially
of people from Liaoning province. In addition to them,
three other provinces of the north could also be taken
into consideration in the framework of illegal migration
to Europe. These are especially the provinces of Heilongjiang,
Hebei and Jiling.
Note
that the specificity of their migration to European
Countries in comparison to the first category of targeted
groups, is that it has actually started up for only
about 3 years, due to the industrial restructuring of
the Chinese economy in the north. Unlike the first category
of targeted group, they have only a few families, associations,
and networks in European countries and also represent
the ideal targeted group for the criminal organisations,
for the snakeheads, the gangs and the human being traffickers.
- Messages:
The messages to be carried by the European Union campaigns
with the Chinese authorities should be positive and
preventive, putting the emphasis upon:
- Miscellaneous
dangers incurred through illegal migration and human
being traffic;
- Hard conditions of living in the host country;
- Death dangers during the crossing;
- Financial hazards;
- Risks of abduction and kidnapping;
- Risk of pressure on the families;
- Penalties and sanctions incurred;
- Loneliness and homesickness;
- Legal procedures normally undertaken before travelling.
The
success and efficiency of the messages depend on the
means and instruments chosen.
- Means
to be chosen:
The
different means to be chosen can be classified into
three main categories.
•
Documented information:
The
first category would consist of the information documented
through leaflets, brochures, booklets, sheets… of information
given out and posters put up in the premises of institutions
such as: consular and diplomatic representations, the
Provincial Public Security Bureau, humanitarian associations,
trade-unions, associations, schools, colleges, universities,
factories, travel agencies, airline companies, airports,
harbours, stations, the areas with a high level of emigration,
and in the various means of transportation (planes,
trains, boats, buses, ships…).
•
The media and telecommunications:
The
media and telecommunications consist of: the press (daily
newspapers and specialised magazines), broadcasting,
TV and radio documentaries, debates and advertising
at a local and/or regional level, as well as the Internet.
It would be also very useful to undertake the development
of certain non-advertising, audio-visual edutainment
means such as: soap operas (very popular in China),
play and recreational activities, movies...
Broadcastings should target specific social classes
and categories such as women, young people, unemployed
people and students… Further to the local information
campaigns, a global information campaign could be conducted
precisely through the following ways and means:
- The
general TV channels (CCTV ) for the middle class;
- Musical channels for young people and students;
- The local and national popular newspapers for workers
and the middle class;
- "News Week" and the Internet for students;
- Magazines for women such as Hope, Zhi Yin…;
- Cartoons channels for Children on cable and CCTV.
• Other
subsidiary means:
In the
framework of the struggle against illegal migration
and unlawful related practices, the European Union and
China could jointly organise colloquiums, conferences,
seminars and briefing sessions both in China and in
the European Union member States with different groups
of people such as: journalists, students, scientists,
officials, people working in airline companies, harbours,
stations, trade unions ....). Following to the assessment
of the value of potential campaigns, messages, groups
and means, it seems important to take into account the
national and provincial Chinese authorities' views,
and to appreciate the force relations between them.
5.
CHINESE AUTHORITIES’ UNDERSTANDING AND REACTIONS ON
THE ISSUE
The Chinese authorities affirmed mainly the illegal
migrants concerned rather head mainly for Australia,
Canada, the US, Japan and South Korea. According to
them, the migrants leave China to Europe mainly with
valid legal papers.
•
OBSERVATIONS AT A PROVINCIAL LEVEL
Three
of the provinces are Liaoning, Zhejiang, Guangdong provinces.
Fujian province seems to be more open to collaborate
with the European Union on that feasibility mission
and to share documentation and information, giving priority
to educated people.
1.
Liaoning Province
• The
province of Liaoning wish
to lead all information campaigns. They think they are
most concerned by the emigration of their nationals,
the repatriation, and wish to collaborate with the members
States of the European Union, further to the national
authorities agreement.
2. Zhejiang Province
• The
provincial authorities of Zhejiang wished to have information
about the European Union legislation and the police
administrations.
3.
Fujian Province
• Of
all the provinces visited during the mission, Fujian
province seemed to be more opened. Their authorities
were rather willing to a co-operation with the European
Union in the framework of an information campaign. This
region enjoys a steady economic growth and there is
a need of labour.
• Like the other provinces Fujian province has also
conducted intensive information campaigns, giving priority
to education. Although illegal migration is decreasing,
they wished to collaborate with the European Union in
the framework of an information campaign and accepted
that European experts come for an identification mission.
4.
Guangdong Province
• The
local authorities of the Province of Guangdong clearly
declared that they had been struggling against illegal
migration, that they have conducted an information campaign
in 1999, and kept on spreading repressive messages against
illegal migration.
• Moreover, they asserted that the Chinese people concerned
are definitely people leaving China with valid visas
and acquired illegal status later upon expiration of
the validity of their visa.
• Nevertheless, they seemed to be ready for a financial
co-operation, an information campaign as well as the
coming of European experts for an identification mission
on condition that the central authorities give their
agreement.
•
OBSERVATIONS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
• The
high level consultations with the Chinese central authorities
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on 5th and 15th of June
2001, were headed by Mrs. Lu, Deputy Director of the
Consular Department of the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• In a good atmosphere of consultation, Mrs Lu however
indicated that she could not take any decision without
the agreement of the Central power. Moreover, the answer
to the questions of the European Union would be examined
by the relevant authorities and given out to the European
Commission later. Mrs. Lu also declared that next meetings
and consultations between Beijing and the European Union
in Brussels would enable to progress in the co-operation
and collaboration of both parties.
• In such a complex political context it is rather difficult
to suggest now a UE campaign implementation.
The
Chinese national authorities agreed to maintain a close
co-operation with the European Community. China's authorities
have stipulated that they wish to keep the information
campaign control. It is a sensitive issue for it is
rather regarded as interference in the domestic policy,
according to China's government officials.
6.
CHINESE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
•
CHINESE AUTHORITIES' INTERESTS
The
Chinese national and provincial authorities wished to
obtain further and detailed information about the police
administration in the European Union Members States.
They say that they would appreciate it if they
could get more information from the European Union,
likely to improve the information campaigns
and mainly about the laws on migration to/from European
Union countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands,
Spain and UK).
China's
authorities wished to obtain information relating to
the legislation of the different member States of the
European Union. The local Chinese authorities agreed
to be receive explanatory information about false documents
issuing, legislation....
They
also wished to establish greater and closer co-operation
and obtain information about repatriation laws, the
sanctions applied, the police administration in each
member State of the EU and other specific information
that would be difficult to exchange, especially for
reasons related to the legislation and the police each
country of the European Union, the different national
security systems and the human rights. The Chinese Central
government authorities are expecting new consultations
in Brussels and wish to build excellent relations with
the European Union in the fields of illegal migration,
false documents issuing and repatriation in the future.
• POTENTIAL EUROPEAN UNION ANSWERS TO THE CHINESE EXPECTATIONS
It is
possible to give them all the available information
concerning the legislation, the sanctions and the penalties
applied to illegal migrants. The
European Union could provide them with copies of the
national legislation of each Member States. Providing
that such information could promote the presentation
of comparisons between the European Union member States.
Beyond
the information that we could provide, it seems necessary
to assess the European Union added value in the framework
of the contribution for the struggle and information
campaign, in case of Chinese authorities' agreement.
7.
POTENTIAL EUROPEAN UNION ADDED VALUE AND CONDITIONS
FOR A PROJECT
• EUROPEAN UNION'S ADDED VALUE
Chinese
people said that the earlier campaigns conducted by
the Australians and the Americans were not really successful
due to a certain lack of understanding of the common
people's, mentality, and the Chinese culture in general.
The messages to
be carried by the European Union campaigns should be
positive and preventive, putting the emphasis upon miscellaneous
dangers incurred through illegal migration and human
being traffic, hard conditions of living in the host
country; Death dangers during the crossing; financial
hazards; risks of abduction and kidnapping; risk of
pressure on the families; penalties and sanctions incurred;
loneliness and homesickness; legal procedures normally
undertaken before travelling. The success and efficiency
of the campaign depend on the means and instruments
chosen and not only on repressive and threatening messages.
In order
to determine the feasibility of an information campaign
likely to inform the potential migrants (including potential
victims of the organised “snakehead” gangs involved
in human beings traffic in certain regions of China)
and to keep them aware of the dangers and difficulties
to which they are supposed to be confronted within the
European Union, all these achievements required a certain
duration and investment for their accomplishment, which
the European Union can bring as an international organisation
of great size of importance. Besides, the European Union
enjoy a certain experience in this field.
• CONDITIONS FOR A PROJECT ACHIEVEMENT AND RE-ACHIEVEMENT
- The
conditions for a project achievement
Till
now, we do not have any certain answer about the feasibility
of the information campaign. In fact the conditions
for a project achievement on the feasibility of an identification
campaign depend on the agreement of China's Central
Government Authorities. So at the present time we can
not consider sending European experts for possible identification
mission, without the prior official agreement and authorisation
of the Chinese government.
The launching of such a campaign requires other conditions
such as:
- Future
meetings between both parties for more explanation and
clarification;
- A programme agreement clearly set between the two
parties;
- A close co-ordination between the national and provincial
authorities of China;
- A national or/and provincial contribution to the investment
of those initiatives.
Further
to the agreement of Chinese government officials, and
before any implementation of information campaign, I
recommend that the European Union appoint an expert
to go to China in order to carry out preparatory works.
The preparatory work could consist of identifying the
appropriate production houses, deeply investigating
upon the press, the radio and TV channels in order to
determine the best strategies of communication, and
the given level (central, provincial or local) at which
the messages could be carried.
In summary, it is clear that the achievement of the
information campaign in China requires much more explanations
and clarifications, new meetings and high level consultations
between political leaders. Thereupon, the European Union
have to wait for the decision of China's central government
authorities and have not to start up any identification
campaign without the prior official agreement. It
seems that the Chinese authorities have been already
achieving a lot in the framework of the struggle against
illegal migration. So, the European
Union should carefully prepare if they intend to bring
their contribution and added value in this field.
- The
conditions of pursuit or re-achievement
The
conditions of pursuit and re-achievement of a campaign
depend mainly on the success of the previous attempt
and all the set objectives are not reached yet. Of course,
taking into account the preliminary conditions such
as:
- The
appraisal of the results obtained;
- The agreement of both the European Union authorities
and Chinese officials;
- A new programme of re-achievement;
- The willingness of national and provincial Chinese
authorities for a re-investment.
8.
FINAL OBSERVATIONS
• GENERAL
ASSESSMENTS
Dr Pierre
Picquart personally thinks that part of the illegal
migration of Chinese people from their country to the
EU is caused by the following facts: First, Chinese
people who wish to migrate to the European Union are
not sufficiently informed about the legal procedures
and formalities; Secondly, they think that the formalities
are too complicated and may take too long.
Any
co-operation between the EU and China would certainly
require not only human resources but also financial
investment. At the same time such an initiative
would be the first of its kind. The issue is rather
sensitive, then I recommend to engage the relationship
with the Chinese Authorities with special attention
and carefulness in order to avoid any disappointment.
The
identification and implementation of the information
campaign in China can not be feasible without the prior
authorisation and agreement of China's Central Government.
So, I do not personally recommend to set up a mission
of expertise and identification at this present time.
During
next meetings and consultations with China's authorities,
undoubted and unequivocal distinction of each party's
expectations should be clearly made about:
a) First,
the strategies and the elements of information concerning
the campaigns in themselves (the matter of illegal migration
from China to EU countries, the issuing of falsified
documents and the traffic of human beings, choice of
provinces, partners, messages, targeted groups, investments,
operational launching…).
b) Second, the exchange of information concerning the
available legislation on migration of the each country
of the European Union countries; I personally suggest
that the European Union bring much more valuable information
to China in this field. The 15 (in 2001) member States
of the European Union have not the same legislation
and each of them is for the time being self governing,
autonomous and responsible for the policy of co-operation;
It is clear that
we need time to pursue and progress in our co-operation
with China in this field; which requires other meetings,
seminars, exchanges and consultations between both parties.
•
ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBLE IMPACT
The
results of my inquiries and the conclusions from the
different meeting and consultations with the Chinese
national and local authorities lead to affirm that an
information campaign in the four key-provinces would
result in a positive action against illegal migration,
thanks to the valuable information and contribution
of the European Union. The process is not so easy because
the matter deals especially with illegal migrants and
unlawful activities which are difficult to control and
quantify. Nevertheless, we can expect some good results
such as:
- The
awareness of the Chinese people;
- The reduction of illegal migrants, snakeheads and
traffickers;
- The increasing of legal procedures;
Finally, the added value, the know-how and the expertise
of the European Union with the collabaration of China
will bring a sustainable practical experience to pursuit
of the efforts and achievements in this field.
• OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT
For
the operational launching of this set of information
campaign or/and proposals, we must now set up the following
elements:
•
The creation of a European Union steering committee
Dr Pierre
Picquart suggest the creation of a European Union steering
committee for adjusting our positions and determine
the possibilities of co-operation with the Chinese authorities
such as their expectation, the European Union potential
answers, the information that could be provide, our
strategies and decisions…
This
steering committee would also suggest the meetings calendar
(every other or third month for instance) and the topics
of the bilateral points that would be discussed (information
campaign, co-operation, repatriation, illegal documents,
potential exchanges between the police administrations…).
This steering
committee has to be assisted by and extended to a bilateral
board of co-ordination "EU - China" which
would struggle together against illegal migration, false
document issuing, unlawful use of legal documents, human
being traffic and human being traffic.
• The creation of a "EU - China" board
of co-ordination
This
"EU - China" board of co-ordination would
consist of both representatives and experts from relevant
the European Union and Chinese national and provincial
authorities. In spite of the current difficulty to undertake
an information campaign in China, this committee would
enable to maintain a consultation structure, which would
work later on other aspects of the co-operation between
China and the European Union. Also, that board of co-ordination
could call assemblies alternately in Brussels and in
Beijing (or in one of the Chinese key-provinces).
Even
if the board of co-ordination would consist in representatives
both from the European Union countries and China who
would develop closer co-operation and activities, it
would be rather useful to solicit the services of external
experts or/and those of the private sector for specific
missions (preparatory works, identification of appropriate
production houses, media...).
With
regard to the results of the mission and this present
report, the undertaking of the mission on the information
campaign should be first and foremost discussed between
the Member States. Consultations in the second half
of this year will indicate to what extent we can expect
to achieve the project. And later on, the actual implementation
of the mission would depend on political leaders both
of the European Union and China during high level meetings.
For many illegal migrants who survive filthy and hard
conditions, physical and sexual abuse, and other perils
of the arduous journey, life in Europe, specifically
in the Chinatowns, is a disappointment if not a curse.
Controlling illegal immigration with the Chinese authorities,
especially human being traffics, is a major challenge
for migration (through the reinforcement and hardening
of the European laws on migration, transit, entry and
exit).
Authorities
in Beijing attempt to stop illegal migration
and are preoccupied by the illegal migration of Chinese
people, false document issuing, human being traffics
and other unlawful practices.
Thereupon,
the European Union should seize this opportunity to
engage with China the beginnings of a real new co-operation
for the struggle against the above mentioned practices.
READ
THE COMPLEMENT OF THE REPORT
China's economy information
End
of the extracts of the report © : for
information on our reports & missions, mail to
Dr Pierre Picquart
Chine, Diaspora chinoise, Chinois d'Europe, de France et de Paris
China,
Chinese overseas, Chinese in Europe, France and in Paris
