Meeting Report: Migration Network Meeting
by Abriel SCHIEFFELERS
The European Affairs office participated in the Eurodiaconia Migration Network Meeting on June 30th. The meeting highlighted current measures implemented across the EU to support the integration of migrants, including the national strategic framework for integration, and access to language learning, employment and vocational education, anti-discrimination and vocational education, anti-discrimination in the employment context, education, health, housing, and anti-discrimination measures. You can find more information on these measures here.
Sophie de Croutte from Federation de l’Entraude Protestante presented on a refugee hosting project in France as an example of best practice. The project began as a grassroots initiative and led to an agreement with the French government allowing 500 refugees to seek asylum in France. The refugees were supported from pre-departure to integration in France through citizen and professional support, aiding with housing as well as socialization.
Professor Simon Baglioni from University of Parma shared about the SIRIUS project, which is researching enablers and barriers to migrants’, refugees’, and asylum seekers’ integration via the labour market. For more information, visit the project website.
Nuria Diez-Guardia, policy officer (migration and integration) European Commission DG Migration and Home Affairs explained about the EU’s role in migrant integration. The action plan by the EU commission addresses a number of different areas, and emphasizes collaboration across many policy fields (employment, health, education, etc.) and on many levels (local regional, national, etc). Consultation on the new initiative will be welcomed in the coming months and will be tailored to address emerging issues including the COVID-19 crisis.
Tags: Europe