Labour migration in the Baltic Sea countries

Dealing with the consequences: integration and citizenship

Jan Niessen

Migration Policy Group

What is MPG?

• An independent policy ‘think-and-do-tank’ with over 15 years of experience

• Mission: to contribute to lasting and positive change resulting in open and inclusive societies by stimulating well-informed European debate and action on migration, equality and diversity, and enhancing European co-operation between and amongst governmental agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector.

• Four primary activities: • Gathering, analysing and sharing information • Creating opportunities for dialogue and mutual learning • Mobilising and engaging stakeholders in policy debates • Establishing, inspiring and managing expert networks

Some MPG products: portals

European Web Site on Integration www.integration.eu

European Immigration Portal ec.europa.eu/immigration/

Some MPG products: tools

Immigrant Citizens Survey immigrantsurvey.org

Becoming a Party of Choice www.migpolgroup.org/benchmark/politica

lparties_en.html

Some MPG products: publications

Anti-discrimination Law Review, Comparative Analyses and Thematic Reports available on www.migpolgroup.com

Integration

• Integration is a process by which

All residents irrespective of their background contributing to and benefiting from well-being

• Policies can hinder or facilitate Integration

Equal opportunities, rights and obligations enhance convergence of societal outcomes

Who are the immigrants

• Legally residing third-country nationals (20 out of 30 million)

• Refugees but not asylum-seekers

• All non-nationals to some degree and some strands

• Non-documented only for access to education

MIPEX Objectives

Legal integration as first step in long path to societal integration

Transparency and knowledge of national policies, changes and trends

Benchmark policies according to European and international standards for equal treatment to identify national policy strengths and weaknesses

Informing and improving policies

Tool for actors

Governmental and non-governmental actors

Academics and media

In

Immigration countries

Countries of origin

Integration policy areas

Seven policy areas for immigrants to participate in society:

Labour market mobility

Family reunion Education Political Participation

Long-term residence

Access to nationality

Anti- discrimination

7 strands- 4 dimensions totalling 148 indicators

• Access, eligibility and concepts

• Conditions, requirements and needs

• Security of status, opportunities

• Rights associated

An overview

Average @ ≈50%:

• Political will counts more than tradition

• Similarities traditional and recent countries of immigration

• Policy change comes slowly

Permanent residence, labour market and education

Access to Labour market

Access to education

Labour market and education

Access to citizenship

Anti-discrimination

Access to citizenship and anti-discrimination