MEMO/06/149
Brussels, 31 March 2006
Integrating-third country nationals: some examples of INTI 2005 projects 1. The European Inclusion Index
The Index Network is composed of 10 organisations from Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Poland, France, United Kingdom, with the British Council in the lead. The European Inclusion Index project aims to improve the quality of immigrant integration policies, by proving a tool to evaluate current policies, and a platform to discuss solutions. The project tackles the problem of lack of clear and comparable information on policies related to integration. It will produce European Inclusion Index, which will provide this information and will create a European-level platform for focussed, fact-based dialogue on immigrant integration. The European Inclusion Index will present the legal and policy framework favouring immigrant integration of the EU-25 by ranking over 100 indicators in four policy areas against a common framework. It is an innovative project since it will use indicators and benchmarking methods in the area of integration.
2.ERLAIM
The project on European Regional and Local Authorities for the Integration of Migrants ( ERLAIM) will be carried by an Italian regional authority plus 8 partners coming from 6 different EU Member States (Italy, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Greece, Cyprus). The ERLAIM project aims at improving the quality of the action of regional and local stakeholders when participating in the design and implementation of policies concerning the integration of third country nationals. On the basis of an existing informal network of regions, cities and local authorities, the project intends to promote a wider transnational partnership representing a platform for dialogue on integration of migrants between European institutions, public authorities and representatives of civil society and migrant associations. The project will contribute to an increased regional and local understanding of European policy on integration and related funding opportunities for trans-national projects. It will comprise the production of a study of respective legal frameworks and competencies; the collection of local and regional policy and projects; the identification of good practices in the field of citizenship; participation and political rights; intercultural communication; minors ands children; women and gender perspective; private/public partnerships for integration.
3.CIEN
Implemented by local and regional authorities in 7 EU member States (Spain in the lead, with Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Poland, Slovakia), the project's goal is to generate knowledge through the exchange of experiences about policies for the promotion of citizenship and coexistence, developed in European neighbourhoods with a high concentration of non-EU immigrants, in order to transfer this knowledge to European cities. The project, which actively involves the immigrant organisation, endeavours to detect coexistence- promoting experiences in European Neighbourhoods; as well as urban reform interventions that anticipate the reinforcement of coexistence and prevent the appearance of racist and xenophobic incidents. The project will produce a Good Practice Guide in t he promotion of Citizenship and Coexistence in European Neighbourhoods.
4.Integration at Sports
The lead partner is a German organisation. "Integration at Sports" will be carried out simultaneously in five EU Member states (Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands) and will foster the integration of third country nationals by collecting and distributing best practise examples on integration through sports. Sport does not only enhance social and communicative skills, it also offers possibilities to enhance the intercultural competences of all involved, which are key comptences in today's societies and are important for successful integration. Thus integrational measures at sports can reach far beyond the sportive activities themselves. The projects involves a pan-European campaign on 'Integration at Sports' which collects best practise examples from Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and inspires the adaptation of existing as well as the development of new concepts that actively foster the integration of third country nationals. It is trans-national through the exchange of information, the strengthening of existing networks and the creation of new ones.
