Mainstreaming the social
aspects of migration
Overview of DG EMPL’s approach
to the integration of migrants
Ionut SASU
Policy Officer – Social Inclusion of Migrants
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
1
Overview
• The social situation of migrants: a very diverse picture
– Net migration to the EU
– Reasons for migrating
– Employment gaps
– Educational level
– Other gaps in social outcomes
• A broad approach to integration
• Specific legal instruments
• Mainstreaming the integration of migrants in the European
Employment Strategy and in the European Strategy for
social protection and social inclusion
Reasons for migrating into the
EU
GR
PT
ES
IT
IE
UK
SE
BE
NL
AT
FR
DE
0%
10%
Empl ICT
Studies
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Empl. found before arrival
Empl. Found after arrival
Family
Humanit./other
Empl. Rate
Educational attainment and
employment rates
90
EU Nationals
85
85
80
Non-EU Nationals
74
75
72
69
70
66
65
61
60
55
55
53
50
45
40
Lower
Secondary
Higher
Average
Education Level
Employment rate of migrants
%
65
60
63,7
59,6
61,6
55
50
45
45,6
40
37,2
35
30
EU Born
Migrants
Total
Migrants
resident> 3
years
Migrants
resident<= 3
years
Female
migrants
<=3years
Gaps in social outcomes
• Lack of comprehensive data on other social
outcomes, but national reports and studies show
that overall non-EU migrants
– Face higher poverty risks (~30% against 16%)
– Their children are less likely to do well in school
(PISA), and are more often living school too early
without any diploma
– Face barriers in accessing housing, live more often in
poor housing and are more often homeless
– Face barriers in accessing health care and social
services
The social inclusion of
migrants
• Migrants face specific barriers linked to their
situation as newcomers: language, cultural habits,
skill levels, discrimination linked to ethnicity, etc.
• Their chances to overcome these barriers partly
depend on the legal, institutional and social
frameworks of the host country
• Are the social policies in place suitable to tackle
these challenges?
A broad approach to social
inclusion of migrants
• A combined approach to migration and integration
policies
• Beyond reception policies and access to citizenship
Allowing migrants
–
–
–
–
to fully participate in society
to improve their potential to acquire knowledge and skills
to integrate on the labour market
to contribute to social cohesion
• The aim is to reduce the persisting gaps between the
host country nationals and the migrants.
• A broad definition of migrants, including EU born
migrants, descendants of migrants, ethnic minorities
• A multi-faceted approach (access to employment, social
protection, housing, health care, social services)
A broad approach to inclusion:
main policy tools
• Pathways respecting each country’s history of
immigration (long-standing host countries, new
host, new gateway countries, transit countries,
emigration countries)
• Legal instruments on specific issues
– Extending EU provisions for the coordination of social
security systems to third country nationals
– Anti-discrimination
– Role of social partners
• Open Method of Coordination (EES, SPSI):
a tool for promoting policy coordination, common
understanding and mutual learning among Member
States
Legal instruments
• Extending the provisions on the coordination
of Social Security systems to third-country
nationals legally residing in the EU
• Anti-discrimination directives
- MS shall encourage dialogue with appropriate NGOs
- MS should ensure that NGOs may engage in any
judicial/administrative procedure on behalf of the
complainant
• Specific role of social partners conferred by the
Treaty
- to give input to policy-making in the social field
- to take own action in the areas of employment and
working conditions
Legal instruments
• Council Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to
family reunification;
• Council Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the
status of third-country nationals (TCN) who are
long-term residents;
• Council Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions
of admission of TCN for the purposes of studies,
pupil exchange, unremunerated training or
voluntary service;
Legal instruments
• Council Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific
procedure for admitting TCN for the purposes of
scientific research;
• Council Directive 2009/50/EC on the conditions of
entry and residence of TCN for the purposes of
highly qualified employment. This Directive (“EU
Blue Card”) had to be transposed by June 2011.
Legal instruments
• Proposal of 23 October 2007 for a Directive on a single
application procedure for a single permit for TCN to reside
and work in the territory of a Member State and on a
common set of rights for TCN workers legally residing in a
Member State;
• Proposal of 13 July 2010 for a Directive on the conditions
of entry and residence of TCN for the purposes of
seasonal employment; and
• Proposal of 13 July 2010 for a Directive defining
conditions of entry and residence of TCN in the framework
of an intra-corporate transfer.
Legal instruments
• The TFEU defines the EU role on integration.
Article 79.4 refers to "measures to provide
incentives and support for the actions of memberStates with a view to promoting the integration of
third-country nationals".
• The European Employment Strategy provides
for the coordination of Member States’
employment policies.
The Open Method of
Coordination
• Political agreement on common objectives
• Establishing common indicators
• Translating the EU objectives into national/regional
policies (National Reform Programs, National Reports on
Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion)
• Common analysis and assessment of the National
Reports : Joint Reports + supporting document
• PROGRESS to promote policy cooperation and
transnational exchange of learning and good practice
through financing of EU stakeholder networks, peer
reviews, independent experts network, round table, EU
meeting of people experiencing poverty, transnational
and awareness raising projects, studies, data collection
The European Employment
Strategy and the ESF
• European Social Fund (ESF):
• helps workers improving skills and job prospects
• 600 000 immigrants and people belonging to minorities
supported annually
• €1.2 billion of ESF co-financing are devoted to specific
actions on migration in 2007-2013
• PROGRESS Programme
• € 743 million available for 2007-2013
• Studies, policy analysis, networking with NGO, stake
holders on EU level
• In the field of Employment, Working conditions, Gender
equality, Social protection and social inclusion, Nondiscrimination and diversity
The social inclusion of
migrants
• National Strategy Reports 2006-2008
Many countries highlighted the integration of migrants as a
key priority of their social inclusion strategy
• Social Protection Committee Work program
2008-10
Mainstreaming the social aspects of migration
– Specific reporting
– Developing indicators and statistical capacity
– Peer reviews on the social inclusion of migrants
– Studies (access to health care, active inclusion of
migrants)
The social inclusion of
migrants
• A multi-faceted approach (access to housing, social
protection, education, training, etc):
– taking account of the specific situation of migrants in all
social inclusion policies
• MS are converging towards specific measures:
– basic language training
– vocationally-oriented, practical information on
employment and immigration rights
– guidance on government and community institutions
– advice on how to gain access to essential services
The social inclusion of
migrants
• Involving a broad scope of stakeholders
– public and private actors
– national and local level
– favour cooperation between these actors within
a framework of integrated intervention
– migrants themselves (participation in society,
representation in policy making)
• Investing in knowledge and statistical capacity
building
The social inclusion of
migrants
Thank you for your attention!
http://ec.europa.eu/social