The Government of Belgium and the High Level Dialogue

The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium is amongst the first European governments that has started developing models defining the significance of migration in relation to the human and socio-economic development process in both host and origin countries. The MIDA Great Lakes programme implemented with the assistance of IOM since 2001 constitutes in this regard one fundamental pillar of Belgium’s pioneering strategy for translating the concept of migration and development into concrete terms.  

In the run up to the UN HLD, the Belgian Government has played an active role in promoting the current debate on migration and development at the national, regional and international levels. Notably, it has hosted a two-day Conference on Migration and Development in March 2006 whose conclusions have been submitted to the attention of the UN Secretary General and presented at the HLD.

At a European level, Belgium has also joined with the Netherlands and Luxembourg to draft a Benelux Paper aimed at contributing to the preparation of a EU common position on the HLD (EN, FR, NL). This document set out a number of priority actions that should be considered in devising future EU policies on migration and development, such as encouraging temporary and circular migration of professionals especially in the health sector, implementing an EU code of conduct on ethical recruitment, conducting awareness campaigns on the risks of illegal migration, enhancing the integration of migrants in host countries, promoting a policy of ‘co-développement’ and assisting third countries through migration management capacity-building initiatives in response to the intense south-south migration flows. The Benelux Paper also emphasised the importance of sustaining post-HLD international cooperation and dialogue between countries of origin, transit and destination in the framework of adequate consultation mechanisms.

With regard to this last point, the Government of Belgium will host the first meeting of the 'Global Forum on Migration and Development' on 9, 10 and 11 July 2007.