Solidarity has to be placed at the heart of Europe’s migration and asylum policy by incorporating a rights-based approach based on a more efficient responsibility-sharing system and improved harmonisation of protection’s standards among Member States. The opening of legal humanitarian corridors is urgently needed. This is the main reason why we advocate for equal access to public and social services for those arriving in Europe especially health and care services, education and housing on equal grounds, as stated in the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union.
The European Commission presented in a Communication released on 7 June 2016 an Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals. The Action Plan establishes a framework for action and concrete initiatives to support Member States in the integration of the 20 million non-EU nationals residing legally in the EU. It includes actions supporting pre-departure and pre-arrival measures, education, employment and vocational training, access to basic services, active participation and social inclusion.
In 2016 SOLIDAR will feed in the process of implementation of the EU Action Plan by providing civil society bases analysis and recommendations and showcasing best practices.
Hence, one of the benchmarks of the Social Progress Watch 2016 focusses on integration of third country nationals. SOLIDAR aims at collecting information on integration policies implemented at national, regional and local level; categories of third country nationals addressed by these policies; feedbacks on allocation and implementation of EU funds on asylum, migration and integration; involvement of civil society in the development and implementation of integration programmes as well as identify and analyzing actions and policies to fight discrimination and promote intercultural coexistence and social cohesion.
Furthermore, in the framework of the Together for Social Europe programme SOLIDAR is collecting case studies displaying successful programme/project to support integration of third-country nationals in society and in the labour market as well as to promote intercultural coexistence and fight discrimination.
SOLIDAR Briefing no. 80 | The EU action plan on integration of third country nationals
SOLIDARITY ON THE SPOT Our Network ensuring dignity for all migrant