Annexes to COM(2016)377 - Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2016)377 - Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2016)377  |
| date | June 7, 2016 |
Fighting discrimination and promoting a positive approach to diversity, as well as combating racism, xenophobia and in particular hate speech, both through the implementation of relevant EU rules 43 and national legislation and through targeted policy measures, are and should be an integral part of effective integration policies.
The Commission will:
Launch projects to promote intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and European common values through culture, films and arts (Creative Europe).
Launch projects to promote social inclusion through youth and sport (Erasmus+).
Propose to give greater priority, within the European Voluntary Service, to activities dedicated to integration of refugees and asylum seekers into their new host communities.
Develop handbooks and toolboxes for practitioners on cultural awareness and expression; intercultural dialogue; active participation of third country nationals in political, social and cultural life and sports in the host societies; and the contribution of youth work.
Launch projects under different EU funds promoting: participation in political, social and cultural life and sports; social inclusion through education, training and youth; preventing and combating discrimination, gender-based violence, racism and xenophobia, including hate crime and hate speech, and fostering better understanding between communities, including religious communities.
Continue to work with the European Parliament and the Council towards the adoption of the anti-discrimination directive.
In strengthening their integration policies, Member States are encouraged to:
Promote exchanges with the host society from the very beginning through volunteering, sport, and culture activities.
Increase third country nationals' participation in local democratic structures.
Invest in projects and measures aimed at combating prejudice and stereotypes (e.g. awareness-raising campaigns, education programmes).
Fully implement legislation on combating racism and xenophobia and on victims' rights and strictly enforce equal treatment and anti-discrimination legislation.
Organise civic orientation programmes for all third country nationals as a way to foster integration into the host society and promote the understanding and respect of EU values.
4.2 Tools to support integration
4.2.1 Policy coordination
Immigrant integration is a political priority that has to be pursued not only across different policy areas but also at different levels (EU, national, regional and local) and by involving non-governmental stakeholders (civil society organisations, including diasporas and migrant communities, as well as faith-based organisations).
To address the challenges highlighted above, the EU should play a stronger role in coordinating and liaising between the different actors and stakeholders in the field of immigrant integration. That is why the European Commission will upgrade the current Network of the National Contact Points on Integration 44 into a European Integration Network with a stronger coordination role and mutual learning mandate. The Commission will support exchanges between Member States within the Network through targeted learning activities such as study visits, peer reviews, mutual assistance and peer learning workshops on specific aspects of integration. The Network will promote cooperation with national authorities and local and regional authorities, civil society organisations and other EU level networks of Member States in connected policy areas (employment, education, equality, etc.).
Since 2009, an Integration Forum at European level 45 provides a platform where civil society and European institutions can discuss integration issues. As of 2015, the Integration Forum evolved into the European Migration Forum, covering a broader range of topics related also to migration and asylum.
Moreover, EU policy cooperation in the areas of education, youth, culture and sports as well as in employment and social inclusion addresses the challenges related to migrant integration. In the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy for Growth and Jobs targets are set in the fields of education, employment and social inclusion, aimed at monitoring and promoting structural reforms. Integration outcomes of third country nationals in Member States have also been analysed and monitored within the Country Reports and Country-Specific Recommendations in the framework of the European Semester, with a focus on integration into the labour market, and education, in order to promote better outcomes and social inclusion 46 .
In November 2015, the Council and the Commission decided to boost cooperation on inclusive education, equality, equity, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic competences under the Education and Training 2020 strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training 47 and the EU Work Plan for Youth 2016-2018 48 .
In addition, the Commission has created a Partnership under the Urban Agenda for the EU focussing on the integration of third country nationals, where the Commission, Member States, cities and civil society representatives will develop together concrete actions to promote integration. This work was reinforced by the launch of a political roundtable between the Commission and European cities to promote long-term integration 49 . The overall goal is to strengthen the dialogue with local and regional authorities and civil society (including migrant communities and diaspora organisations) through regular meetings to discuss integration policies and funding issues.
4.2.2 Funding
The success of integration policies depends on the relation between a strategic, coordinated and multi-dimensional policy framework and adequate funding support.
The EU has supported integration actions through dedicated funding and more broadly through instruments addressing social and economic cohesion across Member States. Under the previous cycle (2007-2013), EUR 825 million was spent under the European Integration Fund. The mid-term evaluation of the European Integration Fund 50 demonstrated that in most Member States the projects financed under the Fund would not have been carried out otherwise. In several Member States, the Fund contributed to the reinforcement and expansion of activities pursued by NGOs and local actors on integration, and fostered dialogue and exchange of ideas and good practices among stakeholders involved in the integration process 51 . In addition to this dedicated support, substantial amounts were also available to Member States under the Structural Funds to support integration-related measures to improve social inclusion, access to education and to the labour market of third-country nationals. For example, the European Social Fund (ESF) co-funded actions that have reached more than 5 million such individuals 52 . This funding however represented just part of the overall investment carried out within Member States.
Under the current Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020, EUR 765 million has been earmarked by Member States for integration under their AMIF national programmes. This figure shows a slight decrease over the previous period while the needs are actually larger and it is now proving to be inadequate for the current situation given the overall investment which Member States need to make.
It was in this light that President Juncker, in his State of the European Union address in September 2015 53 , said that Member States needed to take a second look at their support, integration and inclusion policies and committed the Commission to looking into how EU Funds could support these efforts. The Commission services followed this up by mapping the potential of the different shared management Funds to support integration as well as the role which international financial institutions could play. The Commission produced guidance documents to help Member States enhancing the strategic and coordinated use of relevant EU Funds for quicker and more effective results on the ground 54 .
Significant amounts are available to Member States for the current programming period under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds), and there is considerable scope for these funds to support integration measures. In particular, the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support social inclusion, education and labour market related investment 55 . For example, under the ESF, EUR 21 billion are available to all Member States for promoting social inclusion, combatting poverty and discrimination, whereas under the ERDF, Member States have allocated EUR 21.4 billion. ERDF can contribute to measures supporting investments in infrastructure for employment, social inclusion and education as well as housing, health, business start-up support and the physical, economic and social regeneration of deprived communities in urban and rural areas, including through the Urban Innovative Actions Programme 56 .
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) can contribute to support integration under the priority Promoting Social Inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas, which amounts to EUR 14.4 billion overall comprising possibilities of job creation and provision of basic services and action for social inclusion. 57
The Commission is actively working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that all funding instruments are used to their maximum potential and in an integrated and strategically coordinated way. It promotes exchange of experiences across actors and funds and strengthening the capacity of the actors involved to ensure a coherent approach. An intensified dialogue and mutual learning is already taking place through the AMIF-ISF 58 Committee. Another example is the newly established European Social Fund Transnational Cooperation Network on Migration, that brings together ESF Managing Authorities, social partners and other relevant actors to exchange experiences on how to best use ESF funding (also in the context of synergies with the AMIF) for integration of third country nationals. The Commission will continue deepening its strategic dialogue with individual Member States through dedicated meetings and by providing tailored guidance to maximise the use of the available funding and to explore additional possibilities under existing programmes.
Moreover, the Commission will continue to encourage Member States, regional and local authorities as well as social partners and non-governmental organisations to make the fullest use of the partnership mechanisms for the implementation of the EU Funds 59 . Member States should give the widest possible opportunities for organisations, especially those with innovative approaches, to participate in calls for proposals under national programmes under these Funds.
Finally, the Commission aims to strengthen EU financial support to Member States for the integration of third country nationals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in the context of the 2017 draft budget.
5. NEXT STEPS
With this EU Action Plan on Integration, the Commission sets out policy priorities and tools for concrete actions to be undertaken at EU level in support of the action on integration taken at Member States' level, with a view to further develop and strengthen integration policies across the EU. In our efforts to build more resilient, cohesive and ultimately stronger societies, the time has come to shift gear across the board. The Commission will continue to mainstream the priority of immigrant integration, non-discrimination and inclusion into all relevant policy actions and areas, and looks to Member States to do the same.
Furthermore, the Commission will continue to monitor integration policies and outcomes by building on and further developing the current tools and indicators, including by further strengthening cooperation with relevant actors 60 . On that basis, the Commission will continue to analyse integration outcomes of third country nationals and provide guidance, where appropriate, to Member States in the framework of the European Semester 61 .
For their part, Member States are invited to update and strengthen their integration policies for legally resident third country nationals, building on this Action Plan, in view of new and future challenges and to ensure that all relevant policies are geared to supporting the objective of building more cohesive societies. Member States should also strategically examine how, in addition to the integration-tailored AMIF funding, other relevant financial support can be timely channelled under the European Structural Investment Fund programmes and other EU funding instruments to support their integration objectives, and enhance synergies and complementarity across different policy areas and levels.
The Commission will regularly review the implementation of the actions presented in this Action Plan and the progress achieved and will identify additional actions needed, and will report to the European Parliament and the Council.
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FULL OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FORESEEN AT EU LEVEL 2016-2017
| Actions at EU level to support MS | Indicative timing | Key Actors | |
Pre-departure/pre-arrival measures | Launch projects to support effective pre-departure and pre-arrival measures, including in the context of resettlement programmes, (e.g. language training, information about culture and values of destination country, etc.) under AMIF | 2016/2017 | COM, MS, civil society, third countries |
| Engage with Member States to strengthen cooperation with selected third-countries on pre-departure measures under La Valletta Action Plan | 2016 | COM, MS, third countries | |
| The new European Union Agency for Asylum will facilitate the exchange of best practices in the area of pre-departure integration measures | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
Education | Provide Erasmus+ online language assessment and learning for around 100.000 newly arrived third country nationals, in particular refugees | 2016 | COM |
| Support peer learning events for national and regional authorities on welcome classes, skills and language assessment, support for unaccompanied children, intercultural awareness, recognition of academic qualifications, and integration into higher education. | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Create European Policy Networks for researchers, practitioners, local/regional decision makers to share good practices on integration of recently arrived individuals through formal and non-formal education. | 2017 | COM | |
| Remove barriers to the participation of third country national migrant children girls and boys to early childhood education through the development of the European Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), including assistance to and providing helping to support ECEC staff to respond to the specific situation of migrant families. | 2016 | COM, MS | |
| Promote the upskilling of low-skilled and low-qualified persons in the context of the New Skills Agenda for Europe | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Fund transnational projects and partnerships to support inclusive education, training and youth with a particular focus on projects related to migration and intercultural dialogue under Erasmus+ | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Continue to analyse integration outcomes of third country nationals in the framework of the European Semester | yearly | COM | |
| Provide support to teachers and school staff on how to promote inclusive education and address specific needs of migrant learners and refugee integration through online courses and professional development activities using the online platform School Education Gateway | 2016 | COM | |
| Labour Market and vocational training | Develop a "Skills Toolkit for Third Country Nationals" under the New Skills Agenda for Europe to support timely identification of skills and qualifications for asylum seekers, refugees and other third country nationals. | 2016-2017 | COM, MS |
| Improve recognition of academic qualifications of third country nationals through among other things: Training of staff in reception facilities to allow faster launch of recognition procedures Improve access to procedures for recognition of academic qualifications for beneficiaries of international protection Improve the communication channels for the sharing of information between ENIC-NARIC centres and relevant stakeholders, including NGO’s undertaking education activities in reception facilities Develop a toolkit for credential evaluators supporting recognition of academic qualifications of refugees. | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Improve transparency and understanding of qualifications acquired in third-countries, through the revision of the European Qualifications Framework, (proposal for a Council recommendation adopted under the New Skills Agenda for Europe) that will enhance its implementation and extend its scope to include the possibility to establish links with qualifications frameworks of other regions of the world | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Fund projects promoting: "fast track" insertion into labour market and vocational training (e. g. through skills assessment and validation, employment focused language training, on the job training) labour market integration of refugees and of women (EaSI/AMIF) | 2016-2017 | COM, MS civil society | |
| Promote sharing of promising practices on labour market integration through existing networks and programmes (European Network of Public Employment Services, Youth guarantee coordinators, Mutual Learning Programme and the European Network for Rural Development) | 2016 | COM, MS | |
| Develop an online repository of promising practices on integration into the labour market of asylum seekers and refugees as a source for policy makers in Member States. | 2016 | COM, MS | |
| Science4Refugee: initiative to match refugees and asylum seekers who have a scientific background with suitable positions in universities and research institutions in the EU. | 2016-2017 | COM | |
| Provide funding to strengthen capacity of municipalities and local authorities on reception and integration practices for refugees, with a focus on labour market integration | 2016/2017 | COM, MS, LRA | |
| Continue to analyse integration outcomes of third country nationals in the framework of the European Semester | yearly | COM | |
| Improve outreach activities towards young vulnerable NEETs, including with migrant background, within the Youth Guarantee Schemes | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Identify best practices to promote and support migrant entrepreneurship and fund pilot projects for their dissemination. | 2016 | COM, MS | |
| Social Innovation Competition to award innovations in products, technologies, services and models that can support the integration of refugees and other third country nationals. | 2016 | COM, private sector | |
| Promote sharing of promising practices on integration into VET and peer learning through existing policy initiatives and programmes (European Alliance for Apprenticeships, European Pact for Youth, Erasmus+, ESF, Education and Training 2010) | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, private sector | |
Access to basic services | Promote the use of EU funds for reception, education, housing, health and social infrastructures for third country nationals | 2016-2017 | COM |
| Strengthen cooperation with the European Investment Bank, to provide funding for temporary accommodation and health facilities for newly arrived third country nationals and social housing. | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, EIB | |
| Promote peer learning among Member States on how to address housing challenges | 2017 | COM, MS | |
| Support best practices in care provision for vulnerable third country nationals and refugees, including women, children and older persons under the Health Programme (Annual Work Plan 2016). | 2016 | COM, MS, health stakeholders | |
| Develop pilot training modules for health professionals and law enforcement officers on health for third country nationals, with the view to upgrade and strengthen the skills and capabilities of first line health professionals, and promote a holistic approach to health care of individuals. | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, health stakeholders | |
Active participation and social inclusion | Develop handbooks and toolboxes for practitioners on cultural awareness and expression; intercultural dialogue; active participation of third country nationals in political, social, cultural life and sports in the host societies; and contribution of youth work | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, education stakeholders |
| Launch projects to promote Intercultural dialogue and European values through culture, films and arts (Creative Europe) | 2016 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Fund projects promoting third country nationals’ participation in political, social and cultural life under AMIF | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Fund network of towns, town-twinning and civil society projects on civic participation, including for third country nationals, under the Europe for Citizens Programme | 2016-2020 | COM, MS, LRA, civil society | |
| Address xenophobia by raising awareness and promoting best practices on countering xenophobic acts and speech in the context of the newly created EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance | 2016 onwards | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Promote projects that deal with the integration of refugees under the European Voluntary Service (part of the Erasmus+ programme) | 2016 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Fund projects on preventing and combating racism and xenophobia, including hate crime and hate speech, initiatives to create better understanding between communities and fostering interreligious and intercultural activities and projects and EU NGOs combatting discrimination under the REC programme | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Create a one-stop-shop webpage to provide information on the relevant EU funding supporting projects and initiatives fostering tolerance and combatting racism, xenophobia and discrimination | 2016 | COM | |
| Fund projects to disseminate and replicate good practices promoting social inclusion at grass-root level, including on integration under Erasmus+ | 2016-2017 | COM | |
| Develop a toolbox for policy makers and youth workers on the contribution of youth work and informal and non-formal learning in integration | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, education stakeholders | |
| Fund transnational cultural and audiovisual projects to support refugee integration, under Creative Europe | 2016 | COM, Civil society | |
| Launch projects to promote social inclusion through youth and sport under Erasmus+ | 2016 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Fund projects for the early identification, protection and integration of third-country nationals victims of trafficking, including a focus on children and unaccompanied children under AMIF | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Continue to work with the European Parliament and the Council towards the adoption of the antidiscrimination Directive. | |||
| Identify and disseminate good practices on supporting women | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, civil society | |
| Tools for coordination, funding and monitoring | Strengthen the Network of the National Contact Points on Integration and transform it into a "European Integration Network" promoting mutual learning between Member States | 2016-2017 | COM, MS |
| Promote cooperation between different levels of governance, including the regional and local level, through a Partnership under the EU Urban Agenda focussing on the integration of third country nationals | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, LRA, | |
| Support innovative actions at local level through targeted funding, including under the Urban Innovative Actions Programme | 2016-2017 | COM, LRA | |
| Enhance coordination and strategic alignment of all the relevant EU funding instruments to increase impact of the EU support on the overall integration of third country nationals | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| Reinforce cooperation through dedicated exchanges and visits with responsible national authorities across the relevant EU Funds | 2016-2017 | COM, MS | |
| In the context of the partnership principle and shared responsibility, strengthen the involvement of all relevant actors including through supporting exchange of experience between different actors on the use of ESF funding for refugees integration through the ESF Transnational Cooperation Network on Migration | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, other actors | |
| Further develop evidence on integration at EU level, including through monitoring integration outcomes at local level | 2016-2017 | COM, MS, also in coop. with OECD | |
| Monitor social inclusion and the participation of third country nationals migrants in society from a fundamental rights perspective | 2016 | EU Agency for Fundamental Rights |
(1)
See: Eurostat (2015).
(2)
This Action Plan addresses the integration of migrants including refugees who are nationals of non-EU countries and who are in the EU legally. It does not concern nationals of EU Member States, who have a third country migrant background through their parents or grandparents, nor EU nationals who have exercised their right to free movement and their family members.
(3)
See: Council conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 5-6 June 2014: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/jha/82745.pdf .
(4)
See: COM (2011) 455 final of 20.7.2011.
(5)
See Eurostat data: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Migrant_integration_statistics_-_overview and OECD/European Union (2015), Indicators of Immigration Integration 2015 – Settling In: http://www.oecd.org/els/mig/Indicators-of-Immigrant-Integration-2015.pdf .
(6)
See Commission's reports on relocation and resettlement: COM (2016) 165 final; COM (2016) 222 final; COM(2016)360 final.
(7)
See: COM(2015)240 final of 13.5.2012.
(8)
See: COM(2016) 197 final of 6.4.2016.
(9)
See: European Parliament Resolution of 12 April 2016 on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (2015/2095(INI)).
(10)
In 2015, third country nationals' employment rate was 12.4 pp lower than the one of host countries nationals, with women having particularly low rates. Third country migrants are often under-employed, even when holding university diploma. Educational underachievement is twice as high among first generation migrants (42%) as compared to students with native-born parents (20%), and still high for the second generation (native-born with foreign born parents) (34%). In 2014, 49 % of third-country nationals were at risk of poverty or social exclusion compared with 22 % among host-country nationals. 18.2 % of the young non-EU-born population faced severe material deprivation. Third country nationals were more likely to live in an overcrowded household than the native-born population.
(11)
See: 2016 European Semester: Assessment of progress on structural reforms, prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances, and results of in-depth reviews under Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 (COM(2016) 95 final/2).
(12)
See for instance OECD, The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in OECD Countries, in "International Migration Outlook 2013" and EC Policy Review Research on Migration: Facing Realities and Maximising Opportunities 2016.
(13)
See: Document published by the European Commission Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs: " An Economic Take on the Refugee Crisis ".
(14)
Member States have specific obligations under EU law - in particular under the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU) and the Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) - to provide asylum seekers proper reception conditions from the outset, to ensure equal access to the labour market and facilitate access to jobs once protection status is granted, as well as to ensure equal treatment as regards diploma recognition and provide for specific facilitation.
(15)
See: A New Skills Agenda for Europe: Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness (COM(2016) 381), forthcoming.
(16)
See: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2016/05/24/
(17)
See: C(2015) 3560 final
(18)
See: C(2015) 9490
(19)
See: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18-eu-turkey-statement/
(20)
See: COM(2016) 197 final of 6.4.2016.
(21)
See: Establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration (COM(2016) 385, 7 June 2016).
(22)
See: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/11/ACTION_PLAN_EN_pdf/
(23)
See the final report: http://www.eurocities.eu/eurocities/news/-Building-a-resettlement-network-of-European-cities-and-regions-SHARE-project-publication-WSPO-A9SHLX .
(24)
See: COM(2016)197 final of 6.4.2016.
(25)
Under private sponsorship programmes, civil society organisations or groups of individuals support the cost of resettlement and take care of the first integration of resettled refugees in cooperation with local communities.
(26)
EU-FRANK project: Facilitating resettlement and Refugee Admission through New Knowledge: an EU funded project run by the Swedish Migration Agency 2016-2020.
(27)
See: A New Skills Agenda for Europe: Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness (COM(2016) 381), forthcoming.
(28)
See: Document published by the European Commission Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs: " An Economic Take on the Refugee Crisis ".
(29)
See Eurostat: Migrant integration in the EU labour market of 6.06.2016.
(30)
More than 40% of third-country workers with high level of education work in medium or low-skilled occupations compared to around 20% among host-country nationals, Eurostat, Labour Force Survey.
(31)
In 2015, under half of the third country national women population was in employment, over 16 percentage points lower than the employment rate of women with EU nationality.
(32)
The Tripartite Social Summit gathers twice a year the leaders of the EU institutions and of EU the social partners to discuss topical issues.
(33)
See: https://www.etuc.org/sites/www.etuc.org/files/press-release/files/14.03.16_final_eco_soc_partners_message_refugee_crisis.pdf
(34)
See: A New Skills Agenda for Europe: Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness (COM(2016) 381), forthcoming.
(35)
Social housing can be supported under the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund programmes.
(36)
So far, three loans have been approved for a total of some EUR 800 million in loan financing to benefit an estimated 250,000 refugees (Germany and France, total project cost of some EUR 1.6 billion with a further loan under appraisal). The European Investment Bank is also financing the costs of additional education and social support for refugees in conjunction with accommodation investments.
(37)
See: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/themes/urban-development/agenda/ .
(38)
See the Commission Communication on the State of Play of Implementation of the Priority Actions under the European Agenda on Migration, COM(2016) 85 final.
(39)
The Advisory Committee on Gender Equality (governance structure run by the Commission) will issue this year an opinion on gender mainstreaming in the European Migration Agenda.
(40)
See: Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 and Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000.
(41)
See: Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation COM/2008/0426 final.
(42)
See: Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law.
(43)
See: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/index.cfm?action=furl.go&go=/the-eu-and-integration/eu-actions-to-make-integration-work .
(44)
The Integration Forum was established by the European Commission in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee.
(45)
See: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-specific-recommendations/index_en.htm ..
(46)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=URISERV:ef0016&from=EN
(47)
See http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13631-2015-INIT/en/pdf .
(48)
See: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/newsroom/news/2016/04/04-05-2016-long-term-management-of-migratory-flows-a-new-partnership-between-the-commission-and-european-cities .
(49)
See: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0847&from=EN
(50)
Projects focused mainly on language training, civic orientation, facilitating access to labour market, exchanges with host society/ intercultural dialogue, capacity building of integration policy stakeholders including the development of tools and indicators.
(51)
Other funds, such as Erasmus+, have funded more than 200 projects in 2014-15 dealing with refugees or addressing challenges related to the inclusion of refugees.
(52)
See: http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/sites/beta-political/files/state_of_the_union_2015_en.pdf .
(53)
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/financing/fundings/docs/synergies_between_amif_and_other_eu_funds_in_relation_to_migrants_en.pdf and http://ec.europa.eu/esf/BlobServlet?docId=14499&langId=en .
(54)
Funding is also available under both funds for capacity building, good governance and support to SMEs, which can also contribute to the overall investment to support integration of third country nationals.
(55)
Specific guidance was issued by the European Commission for Member States in 2015 to tackle educational and housing segregation of marginalised communities, including migrants, under the ESI Funds programmes. See: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/thematic_guidance_fiche_segregation_en.pdf
(56)
Under the European Structural and Investment Funds, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) may contribute to the social integration of migrants by providing them professional training and education as well as start-up support if they wish to become self-employed. It can also support the implementation of integrated local development strategies that may also provide a wide range of services to migrants. The Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) can support the provision of basic material assistance and/or social inclusion measures to third-country nationals if they are part of the target group defined at national level. ERASMUS+ provides EUR 400 million to Member States to improve social inclusion through education. The EU has been funding research on integration of migrants under Framework Programme 7 and under Horizon 2020. For a review of the most relevant findings of the related results and most relevant findings see Policy Review 'Research on Migration: Facing Realities and Maximising Opportunities' 2016, pp 51-87.
(57)
Internal Security Fund.
(58)
In line with the provisions of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 240/2014 of 7 January 2014 on the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds, OJ L 74, 14.3.2014, p. 1–7.
(59)
For instance, the EU has launched with the OECD a joint international comparison of integration outcomes which provides policy makers with benchmarks to relate results in their own country with those of other countries and identify good practices. OECD/European Union 2015, Indicators of Immigration Integration 2015 – Settling In. Integration outcomes at local level will also be analysed in the future. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights is currently working on monitoring social inclusion and the participation of migrants and their descendants in society from a fundamental rights perspective and will publish in 2017 the results of the second wave of the largest EU wide survey on experiences of discrimination, hate crime victimisation and societal participation of migrants and minorities (EU-MIDIS II).
(60)
See the 2016 Country Specific Recommendations adopted on 18 May 2016: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-specific-recommendations/index_en.htm .