Brussels, 19/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the 4th European Ministerial Conference on migrant integration in Zaragoza, Spain, on 15-16 April, Spanish Labour and Immigration Minister Celestino Corbacho argued for an overall view to be taken of integration, in three fundamental spheres: coordination of all levels of government, interaction between the various sectors, and involvement of all actors. He said that integration was a phenomenon which develops through coexistence and adaptation between the immigrants and the host society in different fields, in particular in the municipality, the neighbourhood, the workplace, schools and leisure spaces. Corbacho also warned that in times of economic crisis, “constraints should not be placed on actions for integrating immigrants, but the development of medium- and long-term policies are more necessary than ever”. He regretted the lack of a sound legal basis, something which “has prevented us from having a common policy”.
The conference, the theme of which was integration as a driver of development and social cohesion, discussed the role of civil society in this process, the issue of evaluating integration policies and how to manage diversity in neighbourhoods, which addressed strengthening intervention policies in neighbourhoods with the aim of ensuring coexistence and social cohesion, while also promoting economic development, the Spanish Presidency said in a press release. The conference also looked at the importance of human capital, in relation to the education and employment of immigrants.
On the occasion of the conference, Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström announced that she intended to bring forward a new European strategy on migrant integration in 2011. “The successful integration of migrants coming legally from third-countries to live and work with us is necessary to guarantee the European social model and values. After consultation with governments and civil society, the Commission will present in 2011 a more comprehensive strategy on migrant integration for the coming years,” she stated. The Zaragoza Ministerial Conference will have given a boost to this new strategy, which will take advantage of the new legal basis provided by the Lisbon Treaty and the new policy guidelines included in the Stockholm Programme, Malmström said. During the conference, the European Commission released the third edition of its “Handbook on Integration for policy-makers and practitioners”, which focuses on the role of mass media in integration, the importance of awareness-raising and migrant empowerment, dialogue platforms, acquisition of nationality and practice of active citizenship, immigrant youth, education and the labour market.
Among the other participants in the conference were: Juan Fernando López Aguilar, chairman of the European Parliament civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, Spanish Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration Ana Terron, French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity Development Eric Besson, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Employment and Equal Opportunities Minister Joëlle Milquet, Swedish Integration and Gender Equality Minister Nyamko Sabuni, German Minister of State and Government Commissioner for Immigration, Refugees and Integration Maria Böhmer, German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) rapporteur on the new challenges for integration Luis Miguel Pariza Castaños (Employees' group, Spain) presented the different points of view held by civil society on future integration policies in Europe, focusing his speech on the need to ensure greater involvement of civil society in drafting policy. (G.B./B.C./transl.rt)