Brussels, 20/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - “The issue of integration must not be left to technocracy,” said Justice, Security and Freedom Commissioner Jacques Barrot at the unveiling, in Brussels on Monday 20 April, of a European forum and web site on integration. These two new instruments form part of the “Common Programme for Integration” - presented by the Commission in a communication published in September 2005 - and make tangible “our efforts for a genuinely participative integration policy,” said Mario Sepi, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), joint organiser of the European Integration Forum.
Two instruments to be used by civil society players. As provided for in an exploratory opinion drafted by the EESC in 2008, the main functions of the Forum will be consultation, exchange of expertise and preparation of recommendations. “The Forum is a 'physical' platform for a dialogue on the current challenges and future priorities for integration policies,” said Barrot. With its approximately 100 members (largely from European integration-related organisations), the Forum will have two plenary session meetings per year and will receive financial backing from the European Integration Fund, which has a budget of €825 million for the period 2007-2013. The first plenary session was opened on Monday 20 April with the presentation of the Community approach to integration of immigrants, followed by two workshops: the consequences of the current economic crisis on the integration of immigrants and the work methods of the European Forum for Integration and the involvement of civil society at European level. The Forum's activities will be presented by means of the new European web site on integration (http://www.integration.eu ) which seeks to encourage those involved in integration to work in networks, to give information on funding possibilities (subsidies and calls for tender) and to help find partners for projects.
Setting out the political debate on integration. In the inaugural speech, Commissioner Barrot spoke of the need to “make a number of things compulsory” (such as learning the language of the host country and accepting European values) for immigrants by means either of an “integration contract” or an “integration process”, a less binding notion. “How far are we prepared to accept differences?” he wondered, warning against a too communitarian approach towards integration. With the European Fundamental Rights Agency preparing a report on discrimination against minorities in Europe, the Commissioner proposed “going further”, recommending “positive discrimination” and making the situation of the Roma a “major imperative”. Sepi noted that the European concept of integration rested on a “dual approach” which supposes mutual duties and rights among immigrants and the host society. (Y.P./transl.rt)