Migrant Integration Policy Index II

Migrant Integration Policy Index II

Summary

A unique study which measures policies to integrate migrants in 25 EU Member States and 3 non-EU countries.

Authors: Jan Niessen, Thomas Huddleston and Laura Citron, in cooperation with Andrew Geddes and Dirk Jacobs

Description

What is MIPEX?

MIPEX is a unique tool which measures policies to integrate migrants in 25 EU Member States and three non-EU countries. It uses over 140 policy indicators to create a rich, multi-dimensional picture of migrants’ opportunities to participate in European societies.

What are the objectives of MIPEX?

MIPEX aims to improve migrant integration policies in Europe by providing objective, accessible and comparable data for scrutiny and debate. Immigration is a fact of life for every country in the European Union. All of Europe’s residents will benefit from cohesive, open societies in which migrants and citizens alike have opportunities to participate and contribute. Governments create the political and legal frameworks for migrants to participate alongside citizens and, in time, to become citizens themselves. It is therefore vital that the integration policies of European governments are scrutinised and monitored.

MIPEX is intended as a ‘mirror’ that can be held up to EU Member States for them to see how they are performing on migrant integration policy. Of course, government efforts alone cannot achieve integration. Local communities, civil society and individual migrants all have a role to play. MIPEX offers a platform for a fact-based debate between all of these actors on integration policy in Europe.

How does MIPEX work?

MIPEX covers six policy areas which shape a migrant’s journey to full citizenship:

• Labour market access
• Family reunion
• Long-term residence
• Political participation
• Access to nationality
• Anti-discrimination

Best practice for each policy indicator is set at the highest European standard, drawn from Council of Europe Conventions or European Community Directives. Where these are only minimum standards, European-wide policy recommendations are used. Since policies are measured against the same standards across all Member States, MIPEX is a ‘benchmarking’ tool to compare performance.

Who produces MIPEX?

MIPEX is led by the British Council and Migration Policy Group, and produced by a consortium of 25 organisations. Amongst them are universities, research institutes, think-tanks, foundations, NGOs and equality bodies.

When was the first edition of MIPEX released?

The first edition of MIPEX was published in 2004. MIPEX will be produced biannually to track the progress of integration policies in Europe over time.