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Trends in immigrant integration policies: increased cooperation between origin and destination countries
Mariana Andrei - Coordonator Comunicare
11 March 2015
Increased cooperation between origin and destination countries through programmes developed prior to immigrants' departure from their countries of origin and upon their arrival in the destination countries could be a benefit for European Union countries, according to Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
The European Union and the member states have invested significant resources in integration services for migrants over the last decade, such as language courses, access to the labour market etc. However the importance of pre-departure measures in the countries of origin has not been appreciated until relatively recently.
There is a consensus regarding the potential of pre-departure programmes to have a positive impact upon the immigrants' results on the labour market in the receiving country, while at the same time increasing their capacity to actively contribute to the development of their country of origin. Pre-departure measures, such as training, orientation programs and assistance in the recognition of foreign academic and professional credentials can be policy tools to tackle some of the most frequent obstacles to labour market integration. However such measures have only been adopted at a small scale or applied in a unilateral way.
The document issued by MPI regarding a new migrant integration policy by increasing cooperation between countries is part of the INTERACT research initiative co-financed by the European Commission, which examines to what extent policies in EU member states and origin countries encourage or hinder immigrant integration in the destination countries.
MPI proposes an improved labour market integration of immigrants in Europe by cooperation between origin and destination countries with respect to designing and applying pre-departure measures.
In the authors' opinion, cooperation is hindered by two structural challenges: (1) the increasingly multilayered governance of immigrant integration in EU member states and (2) the misalignment of portfolios of competent ministries in origin countries and destination countries.
Destination countries focus on improving migration candidates’ readiness so as to facilitate integration on the labour market, including by prioritizing qualified immigrants. The countries of origin often aim to support medium-skilled workers, for whom no jobs are available on the domestic market, as well as to ensure continuous liaison with diaspora and to encourage remittances contributing to the country development.
The authors' recommendations regarding the cooperation between governments of origin and destination countries to make such pre-departure programs more efficient are: designing the measures by taking into account the needs of the origin and destination countries; flexibility in design to enable adjustment to the labour market trends in the countries involved; and ensuring a sensitive approach that takes into account origin countries’ needs.
Source:
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/increased-cooperation-immigrant-integration-departure-would-benefit-migrant-receiving-countries
The European Union and the member states have invested significant resources in integration services for migrants over the last decade, such as language courses, access to the labour market etc. However the importance of pre-departure measures in the countries of origin has not been appreciated until relatively recently.
There is a consensus regarding the potential of pre-departure programmes to have a positive impact upon the immigrants' results on the labour market in the receiving country, while at the same time increasing their capacity to actively contribute to the development of their country of origin. Pre-departure measures, such as training, orientation programs and assistance in the recognition of foreign academic and professional credentials can be policy tools to tackle some of the most frequent obstacles to labour market integration. However such measures have only been adopted at a small scale or applied in a unilateral way.
The document issued by MPI regarding a new migrant integration policy by increasing cooperation between countries is part of the INTERACT research initiative co-financed by the European Commission, which examines to what extent policies in EU member states and origin countries encourage or hinder immigrant integration in the destination countries.
MPI proposes an improved labour market integration of immigrants in Europe by cooperation between origin and destination countries with respect to designing and applying pre-departure measures.
In the authors' opinion, cooperation is hindered by two structural challenges: (1) the increasingly multilayered governance of immigrant integration in EU member states and (2) the misalignment of portfolios of competent ministries in origin countries and destination countries.
Destination countries focus on improving migration candidates’ readiness so as to facilitate integration on the labour market, including by prioritizing qualified immigrants. The countries of origin often aim to support medium-skilled workers, for whom no jobs are available on the domestic market, as well as to ensure continuous liaison with diaspora and to encourage remittances contributing to the country development.
The authors' recommendations regarding the cooperation between governments of origin and destination countries to make such pre-departure programs more efficient are: designing the measures by taking into account the needs of the origin and destination countries; flexibility in design to enable adjustment to the labour market trends in the countries involved; and ensuring a sensitive approach that takes into account origin countries’ needs.
Source:
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/increased-cooperation-immigrant-integration-departure-would-benefit-migrant-receiving-countries
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