Learning to Welcome: Integration of immigrants in Latvia & Poland

Migrant Integration Policy Index II

Summary

Learning to Welcome: Integration of immigrants in Latvia and Poland

This publications is part of a joint project with the Center for Public Policy Providus in Latvia and the Institute of Public Affairs in Poland

Authors: Dace Akule, Rita Kasa, Iveta Kesane, Thomas Huddleston, Mirosław Bieniecki, Piotr Kaźmierkiewicz

Description

This publication includes research about the legislation that influences the integration of immigrants – labour market access, family reunification conditions, anti-discrimination, political participation.

The first part includes a review of EU standards and national policies found favourable for promoting these integration principles, based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX). This part also compares the state of integration policies in Latvia and Poland in a European context.

The second part consists of a research paper on the integration of immigrants in Latvia.

The third part includes a study on the integration of immigrants in Poland.

The publication is published within an international project “Learning to welcome: the integration of immigrants in Latvia and Poland”, with the support of the European Commission, The Society Integration Fund of Latvia and the Soros Foundation Latvia. The project is implemented by the Center for Public Policy PROVIDUS in Latvia, the Institute of Public Affairs in Poland, and the Migration Policy Group in Belgium.

The report is available to download in sections:

• Preface
• Latvia & Poland in MIPEX: Learning partnerships for new countries of immigration
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
• Learning to welcome: Integration of immigrants in Latvia
• Learning to welcome: Selected aspects of integration of migrants in Poland

Learning to Welcome: the project

The project which led to the publication of this report was took place from October 2007 – June 2008 and was financed by the Migration Policy Group, European Commission, Social Integration foundation, Soros foundation-Latvia, and PROVIDUS, Institute of Public Affairs

The goal of the project was to analyse Latvian and Polish legislation and policy documents relating to integration of immigrants, and compare the situation in these two countries with the experience of other EU member states. In particular, the project focuses on access to labour market, anti-discrimination laws, public opinion and political participation, as well as conditions to receive the status of a long-term resident and family reunification. The analysis was be based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index.

This project aimed to shift the focus of public and policy debates away from the question of whether our countries do or do not want immigrants. It recognises the reality that our countries already have and will continue to have immigrants, who governments should want and encourage to be active citizens. The project therefore poses a new question for public debate over whether our countries have developed clear integration policies to guarantee the rights and responsibilities of immigrant citizens and to promote welcoming host societies.

At the end of the project the publication wasl be published and disseminated in two international conferences in Riga and Warsaw.

Project partners were the Institute of Public Affairs in Poland and Migration Policy Group in Belgium.