Brussels, 01/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The third edition of MIPEX (Migrant Integration Policy Index) can be used as a tool for mapping and evaluating integration policies. This edition was published on 28 February. MIPEX is a project set up by the Migration Policy Group (MPG, Brussels) and the British Council. It is also co-funded by the European Integration Fund. This comprehensive and multifaceted instrument covers an increasing number of countries, 31 in total, including three new entries: Bulgaria, Romania and the US. An MPG press release explains that the tool also contains more political indicators than the previous 2007 edition. The index highlights the major disparities between European countries in their policies for integrating their 20 million foreign residents. MIPEX III assesses the rather slow overall development since 2007 and illustrates that there are still a number of obstacles to migrants living, working and actively participating in our societies.
At the top of the class of the 31 European countries, in addition to North America, are: Sweden, Portugal, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, the US, and Italy. At the bottom of the class we find Malta, Slovakia, Cyprus and Latvia. Switzerland is in 23rd place. France is in 15th position and Germany and the United Kingdom share 12th place.
MIPEX illustrates that the main obstacles in Europe to integration are still questions involving access to nationality, political participation and education access. These first two domains are those in which France has not achieved its best results. The study subsequently indicates that in this country, “new arrivals are confronted with the least favourable and most contradictory integration policies” in comparison with other major countries taking in immigrants. Apart from employment, Belgium is regarded as a country that integrates foreigners effectively: it is in first position for long-term residency opportunities, fourth place for access to nationality and in third place for access to education. Canada has managed to increase its position in the league table by two and has now been in third place since 2007, since the efforts made by its government to improve recognition of workers' qualifications (for those trained abroad).
The idea of political participation is mainly linked to the right of foreigners to vote in local elections, a right that does not exist in France, contrary to the majority of countries that facilitate naturalisation. The analysis of access to education reveals a necessity to enhance targeted education measures for migrant children. On a positive note, France achieves its best score for fighting discrimination, a domain in which it is at the head of the class on this question.
The MIPEX results will be presented during a conference organised by France's project partners, France terre d'asile and Terra Nova, and the British Council on 16 March 2011. http://www.mipex.eu (G. B./transl.fl)