Integrating non-EU nationals

SUMMARY OF:

Communication (COM(2016) 377 final) — Action Plan on the integration of non-EU country nationals

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE ACTION PLAN?

• It sets out policy priorities and specific measures to help European Union (EU) governments integrate non-EU nationals into society.
• It describes the operational and financial assistance the European Commission can provide to support national policies and the various organisations and bodies working on integration.

KEY POINTS

The action plan contains various EU initiatives that the Commission has launched or will launch to support integration in specific areas. These include:

• Pre-departure/pre-arrival: measures to promote the start of integration activities as early as possible before migrants start their journey and for the communities which will receive them.
• Education: measures to support the provision of language classes and to promote inclusive education.
• Labour market: measures to promote early identification of new arrivals’ skills and qualifications, the removal of barriers to vocational training and the successful pooling of good practice.
• Basic services: housing and health services are national policy areas, but the EU can help with funding and support for best practice, especially for the most vulnerable, and develop pilot training programmes for health professionals.
• Social inclusion: measures to promote the active participation of newly arrived migrants in cultural, youth, sporting and other activities, along with measures to foster mutual understanding and combat all forms of discrimination.
• Policy coordination: the European Integration Network can be used to encourage contacts and cooperation between national, regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations active in the field and other networks in specific policy areas such as employment and education.
• Funding: in addition to the national finance available, the EU can part-finance different aspects of integration, ranging from social inclusion and poverty reduction to job creation, from its social, regional and rural development funds. The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund can provide specific support for integration activities.

BACKGROUND

• About 20 million non-EU nationals live legitimately in the EU, accounting for 4% of its total population. Many fare worse than EU citizens in terms of jobs, education and social inclusion, despite efforts made to integrate them. Helping them to participate and contribute fully will benefit both them and society at large.
• The action plan builds on the 2011 European agenda on integration.
• For more information, see:
  • Delivering the European Agenda on Migration: Commission presents Action Plan on Integration and reforms ‘Blue Card’ scheme for highly skilled workers from outside the EU — press release (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals (COM(2016) 377 final, 7.6.2016)

last update 27.07.2017