Strategic thinking on equality and mobilityPresentation • Positive Action as an Area for Improvement in Europe’s Integration Strategies • ENAR policy seminar: “Understanding positive action: from theory to practice” • 30.11.2007

Thomas HUDDLESTON, Policy Analyst

Positive action as a strategy for integration…Starting-points for advocacy:

1) Remedy against long-term exclusion, both active and passive

2) Pro-active measure to ensure equal opportunities and active participation in labour market

3) Principle of good governance based on ‘mirror concept’ of promoting equality as well as intercultural competence

…under-utilised by national governments.Impediments to be overcome in advocacy:

1) State’s understanding of long-term exclusion and the goals of positive action measures: temporary corrective measure or permanent principled feature?

2) Perception of its role in integration process

3) Contested definitions of ‘mirror concept’ and vague understanding of intercultural competence and its benefits

Positive Action Measures & Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) Biannual assessment of integration policies in Europe (140+ indicators)

Labour market access Family reunion Long-term residence Political participation Access to nationality Anti-discrimination law

Benchmarked to high European standards (often stakeholder proposals) 25 EU Member States as well as Norway, Switzerland, & Canada

2) Pro-active measures for integration in labour marketMIPEX Normative Framework

National targets to reduce migrant unemployment, promote vocational training and profession-based language courses

Equal access as EU nationals to training and study grants

Measures to facilitate procedures for recognition of qualifications and skills

Slightly favourable security and rights for migrant workers...

…Integration measures only halfway to best practice.

Ex. AUSTRIA (0/100) Complicated bureaucratic web

for recognition of skills No national guidelines for free

and fair procedures Higher fees and unequal

access for TCN access to training / study grants

Absence of specific national targets

Ex. Best practice in NL and SE

3) Principle of good governance for promoting equalityMIPEX Normative Framework

Introduction of positive action measures in national administration

Obligation for public bodies and parties who receive contracts, loans, grants or other benefits from public bodies promote equality in their work

Mechanism to ensure present and future legislation comply with equality laws

Law provides slightly favourable definitions of discrimination and applies them in various fields of life...

…Legal obligations for state to promote equality ‘unfavourable’.

Most countries one or no elements

Ex. CZECH REPUBLIC (0/100 on all equality policies)

Best practice in CA & SE, some examples in LT & PL

Using advocacy tools: MIPEX example Raising the debate Setting standards on positive action as integration strategy Identifying pathways to policy improvement Linking national areas of strength and weakness Best practice learning Tracking raising or lowering standards over time

Acting on equality and mobility

www.integrationindex.eu

Thank you for your attention!