§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Filkin on 9 July (WA 77), whether they will publish the draft final declaration of the Conference of European Ministers responsible for migration affairs, to be held in Helsinki on 16 and 17 September, so that Parliament is informed in advance of the conference of the likely parameters of the disclosure. [HL5217]
§ Lord FilkinI do not think it would be appropriate to publish the draft final declaration before it has been discussed by participating ministers.
The conference will be considering three main themes. These are: challenges for integration policy, including managing diversity in a democratic society; challenges in migration management policies, including smuggling and trafficking; and policy planning for the future, including the role of migration in economic and social development and its impact on the demographic situation in receiving and sending countries.
The final communiqué will reflect the views of working groups on these topics and key conclusions will be presented at the end of the conference.