WRITTEN QUESTION E-3617/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 December 2002)

Subject: Promoting alternatives on a European scale to poor integration between population groups and the emergence of mutually exclusive social environments

1. Is the Commission aware that, as a consequence of decolonisation and the requirements of the labour market, large numbers of persons of non-European origin have, over the last few decades, settled in particular in the inner-city areas of Member States like Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium? Is it aware that those new-arrivals have grown up with languages, cultures or religions other than those that had been prevalent before they settled into their new living and working environment, and that the need for such new-arrivals to become integrated had long failed to receive the attention it deserved because governments, businesses, educational institutions and landlords had alike assumed that their presence would only be temporary?

2. Is the Commission further aware that the state of affairs referred to in question 1 above has meanwhile led to the emergence of schools attended and residential areas inhabited by a very high percentage of new-arrivals, alongside schools and residential areas where new-arrivals are almost unknown, as well as to inadequate knowledge of the local language and customs on the part of first-generation new-arrivals,

to high unemployment among the groups of new-arrivals concerned at a time when the economy is on the downturn, to failure to establish significant mutual contact between the different population groups, and to the emergence of conflicts and the rise of movements seeking to exclude the new-arrivals from society?

3. Is the Commission aware that movements have meanwhile arisen among second- and third-generation new-arrivals that have concluded, from the experience of second-class status and enforced isolation, that they cannot and will not integrate, but must rather defend their interests by forming their own political parties and interest groups and establishing their own language rights, residential areas and schools, and that such views are being proselytised by the Arab-European League, based in the Belgian city of Antwerp, to other European cities where the situation had hitherto been less polarised and embittered?

4. What options are open to the Commission for helping to remove the underlying causes of the emergence of separate residential areas, second-class status in society, a divided labour market and ethnic conflicts? How can it contribute to exchanges of ideas and experience drawing on successful and failed attempts at integration between different population groups in the different Member States?

5. To what extent can current and future URBAN-financed projects help more effectively to eradicate the breeding-grounds for influences that obstruct the joint efforts of long-standing local communities and new-arrivals to live together in equality, peace and harmony?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Responsibility for the integration of migrants rests mainly with the Member States and usually involves cooperation between national, regional, and local authorities often in conjunction with other organisations. The Tampere Council called for the adoption of more vigorous integration policies for third country nationals as one of the principle elements of the common immigration policy which is now being developed emphasising the need for them to be granted rights and obligations comparable to those of Union citizens. Major efforts have been made by Member States to improve and develop their national policies. The Commission's role is limited to action in a number of areas where there is Union competence, including the provision of financial support for integration measures and to promote the exchange of experience and, in accordance with the Amsterdam Treaty, to setting out the common legal framework for the admission and stay of third country nationals which will provide a minimum level of rights which they should enjoy. In this context the Commission has put forward draft directives on family reunification, the status of long term resident third country nationals, admission for employment and of students and volunteers each of which includes the granting of basic social and economic rights. These directives are, however, still under consideration in the Council.

With respect to supporting measures, the Commission already finances projects in the Member States to integrate refugees under the European Refugee Fund and will shortly be launching a programme of preparatory actions to promote the exchange of experience and good practice with respect to the integration of immigrants. The Commission is also preparing a Communication which will examine a wide range of issues concerning the integration process including those specifically related to 2nd and 3rd generations, and propose further action at Community level to promote the successful integration of migrants both in the labour market and within society in general. Given the growing contribution of migrants to employment and economic growth the need to ensure their integration into the labour market will be reflected in the 2003 Employment Guidelines.

In addition, the Community Action Plan to combat Social Exclusion which entered into force in January 2002 explicitly targets the social situation of and policies to integrate immigrants and ethnic minorities. Policies to combat discrimination, racism and xenophobia are also important elements in the comprehensive approach which is needed to tackle the underlying causes of conflict between population groups. Here the Council adopted in 2000 two Directives put forward by the Commission which are based on Article 13 of the EC Treaty

which prohibits discrimination based on ethnic or racial origin, religion or beliefs, sex, disability, age and sexual orientation (one(1) implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin in employment, education, social protection, social advantages and access to goods and services which is due to be transposed into national legislation by July 2003 and a second(2) promoting equal treatment in employment which should come into force in December 2003). Some projects supported by the accompanying Action Programme specifically concern migrants.

Within the areas to which the URBAN Community Initiative programmes apply, it is open to programme authorities to promote the social and economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees where this is considered a priority, provided that this is compatible with the text of the programmes and the associated programme complements, and that it contributes to the sustainable economic and social regeneration of the areas concerned. The Commission's Guidelines for the implementation of the URBAN II Community Initiative made it clear that one of the priorities for the URBAN II programmes might be the development of an anti-exclusion and anti-discrimination strategy through actions furthering equal opportunities and targeting notably groups such as women, immigrants and refugees. The initial assessment of the URBAN Community Initiative, as detailed in the Communication of 14 June 2002 from the Commission to the Council, the Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions(3), explained that ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees accounted for nearly 14 % of the population of the URBAN areas, about four times the figure for the Union as a whole. The Communication also indicated that social inclusion accounted for 21 % of planned spending in the URBAN II programmes.

(1) Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000, OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(2) Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000, OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(3) COM(2002) 308 final.