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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!
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