Policy Recommendations and suggestions on Integration
from the Sixth FORUM ON INTEGRATION AND PEACE
ROME, 22 FEBRUARY 2017
from the Sixth FORUM ON INTEGRATION AND PEACE
ROME, 22 FEBRUARY 2017
*Policy Recommendations and suggestions on Integration
Decentralized integration is one of the most effective potential solution for a better integration of migrants and refugees in Europe and other countries. Italy and Germany, for example, have been developing various practices in this direction.
Based on the analysis of four Italian practices and four German ones, we identified four criteria to ensure success for a fearer and effective integration policy: 1) Housing; 2) Learning Language; 3) Formation and training for job placement; 4) Socio and cultural integration in the local community.
These four criteria proved to be crucial, even if they are still presenting some challenges.
From this perspective, we suggest European government to continue to support and incentivize decentralized integration programs in the following four areas
Based on the analysis of four Italian practices and four German ones, we identified four criteria to ensure success for a fearer and effective integration policy: 1) Housing; 2) Learning Language; 3) Formation and training for job placement; 4) Socio and cultural integration in the local community.
These four criteria proved to be crucial, even if they are still presenting some challenges.
From this perspective, we suggest European government to continue to support and incentivize decentralized integration programs in the following four areas
- Housing
1.1. Ensure that immigrants and refugees have access to homeownership. Immigrants and refugees often must rent apartments, which can be cost-prohibitive, and thus live in overcrowded and dilapidated housing, with two or more families sharing small spaces. Programs in all EU countries that incentivize homeownership among immigrants should be started, including more availability to credit and more generous terms.
1.2. Ensure that immigrants and refugees have access to public housing and to housing subsidies. Immigrants and refugees can spend a large portion of their earnings on housing, as 30 percent of non-EU citizens spend 40 percent on housing. Immigrants and refugees with legal status should be eligible for assistance based on income, which would allow them to work their way out of poverty.
1.3. Housing discrimination laws should be strengthened and enforced. Immigrants, especially from Africa, can experience discrimination in obtaining housing in EU countries. Anti-discrimination laws should be enforced in these cases. - Learning/language
2.1. Non-EU children should be provided access to language training within the public school system. Children must be provided avenues to learn their new country’s language, which is key to their successful integration into a new culture and society. Language classes focused on the native language should be integrated into the regular school day. After school programs also should be made available.
2.2. Churches, faith-based organizations and community organizations should be encouraged to provide language classes for newly arrived immigrants. Immigrants and refugees who do not attend school on a regular basis must have access to language training. Community classes, based in a church or other community organization, should be increased.
2.3. Businesses that hire immigrants should receive incentives to provide language training to their employees. Businesses that rely upon immigrants should either pay for or provide language instruction, with government help, if necessary. Such efforts invest in their workers and create a more skilled workforce able to navigate the economic sector of a country. - Formation and training for job placement
3.1. Job and vocational training programs should be offered to newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Newly arrived immigrants are eager to work and to support their families, but often lack the skills necessary to earn sufficient wages. Skills-based training is a good investment, as it gives people a trade and livelihood and allows them to start businesses. Such training programs should be offered by businesses and by governments.
3.2. Job banks should be utilized to match workers with jobs. With the advent of the technological age, it is easier to match workers with openings. Job banks should be expanded, but should require that employers are registered and provide certain wages, benefits, and appropriate working conditions.
3.3 Low rate loans should be provided for immigrants to start businesses. Immigrants are hard-working and entrepreneurs who can begin new businesses with a little help. Governments should provide low rate assistance to immigrants and refugees with new and innovative ideas. As a result, these newcomers can hire workers and create a stronger economy. - Socio and cultural integration into the community
4.1 Cultural orientation programs should be offered in local communities, with the involvement of churches, nonprofit groups, and business. Often, newly-arrived immigrants are unaware of local customs, laws, and practices, which can make it harder to fully integrate. Cultural orientation programs which explain the history, traditions, and local customs would enable them to better conform to certain practices.
4.2 Legal organizations should provide “Know-Your-Rights” presentations to newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Briefings by immigration attorneys on a particular nation’s immigration system are beneficial for new immigrants, as they can become aware of their rights in the system, but also in their responsibilities. This, in turn, makes the judicial system more efficient and more just. Programs to provide legal representation to immigrants and refugees should be encouraged.
4.3 Citizenship classes are vital. The ultimate indicator of integration is an immigrant becoming a citizen of his or her new nation. Citizenship classes that provide civic and history training would allow immigrants to obtain citizenship and be able to assert their full rights in society.
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT
Firstly, we have to bear in mind that, as reflected in the United Nations New York Declaration, adopted in October 2013, Governments agreed to address the root causes of migration, including “poverty, instability, marginalization and exclusion and the lack of development and economic opportunities, with particular reference to the most vulnerable populations”. To do so, they decided that they will work with countries of origin to strengthen their capacities” (op 12).
In light of these goals and the urgency to maintain multilateralism as the required approach to face international migration challenges, and in light also of the need to explore solid alternatives to the current economic model to generate development in the short, medium and long terms, we list the following suggestions and recommendations for the Europeans countries, especially the governments of Germany and Italy, that might have positive impacts in the countries of origin:
In light of these goals and the urgency to maintain multilateralism as the required approach to face international migration challenges, and in light also of the need to explore solid alternatives to the current economic model to generate development in the short, medium and long terms, we list the following suggestions and recommendations for the Europeans countries, especially the governments of Germany and Italy, that might have positive impacts in the countries of origin:
- To exercise a committed guidance within the European Union in the negotiation process of the 2018 international migration and development conference, in order to achieve commitments, based on the principle of shared responsibility, which can foster development in origin countries.
- To fully allocate the committed Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds.
- To allocate ODA funds for capacity-building purposes in countries of origin for:
a) The creation of high-level institutional bodies to deal with migratory issues to systematize different services for migrants abroad and foster interconnection with diasporas by including due consultation in the design and implementation of policies and programs, as it is done in countries such as Morocco, Egypt or Mexico.
b) To build consular capacities in host countries in order to provide protection services, identification documents and cooperation with local authorities for implementing integration programs. Financial education and health information services can be also provided by consulates, as it is the case of Mexico. - To foster co-development projects in different modalities, such as:
a) Engagement with diasporas to fund development projects, with due participation of migrants in their design and implementation, at different levels of government (local, state and national), as different good practices show in Africa and Latin America.
b) Creating economic opportunities, capacity-building and transfer of knowledge to facilitate circular migration.
c) To implement policies to provide investment incentives for diaspora to help boost the national economy, as many cases of best-practice exemplify.
d) Engagement with governments, diasporas and communities of origin to promote exports, such as access to markets in developed countries.
e) Establishing multi stakeholder initiatives to fund development programs with a strong participation of the private sector, especially of socially-oriented enterprises, such as Mondragón.
f) To promote start-ups for returned migrants. - Funding of migrant organizations in the diaspora, as the Center for International Migration and Development does in Germany.
- Capacity-building and orientation before departure in origin countries, as different Governments do, such as the Philippines.
- Accountability and transparency of Official Development Assistance (ODA). In order to maximize the benefits of ODA is indispensable to implement monitoring mechanisms on how these funds are spent. Civil society participation in this task is fundamental to achieve the necessary goals in this task.
