Indian Council of World Affairs

Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Mr. Muktesh Pardeshi, 

Deputy Director General, DG Home, European Commission Mr. Johannes Luchner, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.  It is an immense pleasure to be here today to mark the launch of the India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility - CAMM Phase II.

2.  India is a significant player in the international migration dynamics. With nearly 18 million people living abroad as of 2022, India has the largest emigrant population in the world, making it the leading source country globally. India is also the largest recipient of remittances. We have a growing talent pool of highly qualified and skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers. India’s role in future in meeting global labour market requirements will be significant. In recognition of the importance of migration and mobility in India-EU relations, the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility was endorsed at the India-EU Summit in March 2016.

3.  CAMM Phase I which was implemented between September 2017 and February 2022 has played a pivotal role in establishing a detailed and expansive framework that encourages both parties to enhance migration and mobility governance in the India-EU corridor. This framework has been organized around four key pillars: 

• better organizing and promoting regular migration - tailored to relevant skill demands and fostering well-managed mobility;
• maximizing the developmental impact of migration and mobility;
• preventing and combating irregular migration and addressing human trafficking;
• promoting international protection.

4.  Over the past four years, CAMM Phase I resulted in a wide spectrum of activities. The erstwhile India Centre for Migration is now the Centre for Migration, Mobility and Diaspora Studies – CMMDS - at the Indian Council of World Affairs. ICM, as a partner in CAMM Phase I, was instrumental in organising a series of studies and reports on relevant areas. The need for raising awareness and empowering aspiring migrants is critical to ensure safe and orderly migration. Pre-departure orientation is a flagship initiative of the Government of India. We have seen the results of these trainings and how that has enabled our people to be better prepared for going abroad.

5.  The focus of CAMM Phase II through its two key outcomes, including first, facilitating legal migration and mobility of workers, students and researchers through the sharing of good practices and lessons learnt; and Secondly, cooperation to prevent irregular migration and trafficking in human beings will timely address the emerging trends of migration.

6.  India holds a unique position with its diaspora spread across the world and its commitment towards safe, orderly and regular migration.

7.  On a bilateral level, India has been cooperating with several EU Member States to further improve mobility governance between the regions. Capturing these changing demands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced in the new Indian Parliament that “the world needs skilled manpower, and India is making a place for itself by fulfilling this need.”

8.  India has signed several Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements and Migration and Mobility Partnerships with various countries in Europe to promote regular migration of workers to fulfil the growing need for qualified and trained professionals while also preventing irregular migration. Among the EU Member States, we have signed Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements with Denmark and Portugal. We have also signed Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements with France and Germany. All these Agreements are intended for better governance of migration and mobility between the two regions.

9.  Apart from these various types of Agreements, India is also signing Letters of Intent (LoI)/Declarations of Intent (DoI) with key destination countries, which lay out the commitment of both parties to commence or fast-track negotiations on Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements. These have been signed with countries in Europe, such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Germany and Austria. Thereby, the primary driver behind these arrangements has been the mutual recognition of the benefits of safe, orderly and regular migration and eliminating the perils emanating from irregular migration.

10.  As we transition from the successful completion of Phase I to the promising horizon of Phase II, our vision remains clear. We aim to innovate to discover novel solutions and opportunities that reinforce and enhance the migration and mobility cooperation between India and the EU. In this regard, ICWA looks forward to working with its partners for the development of studies and analyses and conducting workshops in relevant and agreed areas.

11.  In conclusion, I express my appreciation to ICWA’s partners – ILO and ICMPD - in CAMM Phase II for their commitment and cooperation. As we forge ahead, I have the utmost confidence in our collective capability to ensure the welfare of Indian migrants.

Thank you.

*****