(2004/C 70 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2938/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject:   Commission communication on immigration, integration and employment

In its communication (1), the Commission says on page 10 that ‘the costs and benefits of immigration are not evenly distributed’. On page 11 it goes on to say that ‘this does not exclude adverse effects on particular groups or sectors. Empirical findings point towards the concentration of undesirable effects on blue-collar workers in manufacturing industries and on unskilled labour in services’.

This is a serious problem, not least because of the size of the group concerned. It is primarily the most vulnerable groups in our society that are hardest hit by the negative effects of immigration, not only in socio-economic terms but also in other ways (alienation in whole areas of cities because local people choose to leave, breakdown of social infrastructure, crime and so on. Although the Commission recognises the problem it simply glosses over it.

What measures is the Commission proposing to tackle this problem?

Are any such programmes currently under way?

(1)  COM(2003) 336.