The International Seminar was held in Madrid, Spain, from 16 to 18 February 2018, under the theme: "Intervention strategies for integrating refugees and immigrants in the European labour market", organised by FIDESTRA (Association for Training, Research and Social Development of Workers), with the support of EZA and the European Union. The seminar was part of the coordination of the EZA project on the "Integration of migrants and refugees in the labour market - The role of workers' organisations".
The seminar was attended by a number of organisations from Poland, Serbia, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with a total of 68 participants, with the purpose of analysing and proposing political and social strategies and solutions for the largest and most serious migratory crisis seen in Europe since World War II.
These organisations agree that it is important not to forget the relevance of this work topic. By 2015, the total number of refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Europe had reached a record high of more than one million people. In 2016, in the first 4 months alone more than 180 thousand people were registered in these circumstances. The magnitude of the numbers and the very brief period in which these arrivals took place represent a major challenge for Europe.
This phenomenon has undeniable effects on public opinion, which is very sensitive to migration and refugee issues, so policy attention is largely focused on how to deal with the refugee crisis".
On the other hand, the refugee crisis forces Europe to pay more attention to integration policies. If integration is successful, it will bring social cohesion, economic growth and job creation to Europe.
Up for discussion were the issues of inclusion of migrants and refugees in the labour market, the sharing of good practices among the various countries involved, as well as the difficulties faced and their proposed solutions.
The question of refugees and migrants, the various paths, professional achievement and the important role of EZA’s network of centres, as well as the relevance of integration, humanism in reception and peaceful civic society (democracy, rule of law and human rights), were central to the various approaches, in the background lectures, as well as in the round table discussions.
The Seminar focused on the sharing of experiences, the vision of political decision-makers, as well as the testimony from NGOs working on this issue directly and on a daily basis.
Objectives of the seminar:
- analyse the situation of the European Commission's action plan on the reception and integration of
- measures being taken by Member States at regional and local level to ensure the integration of immigrants and refugees so that they can contribute economically and socially to the host communities as a key element for future prosperity, cohesion and well-being of European societies;
- to coordinate between unions and workers' organisations, action lines aimed at labour market integration and the integration and social participation of migrants in European societies to combat discrimination, racism and xenophobia through the defence of European values.
In order to reach these objectives, FIDESTRA selected some of organisations of the EZA network that work on this problem, and invited participants from the social field to the political, taking into account their profile on the ground, as well as sought the collaboration and experience of the International Cooperation and Migration Platform (ICMP) with which organisations of the EZA network are involved.
It sought to create a dynamic discussion space, taking into account a methodology of shared and participative work of all the participants in the seminar, which translated into the elaborated programme. The programme gave the floor to the organisations that were present, with a broad debating space, framing each sub-theme with a background conference given by an expert.
The seminar also examined and attached particular importance to the measures implemented by the EU and the Member States to improve communication, coordination and collaboration in host societies - the media, local authorities, trade unions, employers' organisations, NGOs - as elements necessary to create a positive climate for the newcomers and to obtain the full support of the population.
Emphasis should also be given, not only to integration policies in the EU and the Member States, but also regarding:
- The European Commission's Action Plan to support member states in the issue of the reception, integration and replacement of refugees, with particular focus on MEP Veronica Lope
- Experiences and good practices of integration that are being developed at local, regional and national level in different European countries. Particularly noteworthy is the experience presented by the CPR (Portuguese Council for Refugees), Local Government - Alvito City Council, and the General Director of Social Integration of the Government of the Community of Madrid;
- Role of trade unions, workers' organisations and NGOs in social and labour integration. This was explained by the various participating organisations.
As a result of two days of work and sharing between the various organisations of the EZA network, non-governmental associations and political entities, the following general conclusions are drawn:
- The importance of integration in the world of work and society, based on training, culture, knowledge and recognition of difference.
- The existence of fears, stigmas and prejudices that condition actions, but that will ease over time, as problem-solving policies are implemented, and thus increase the confidence of citizens.
- We must face the paradigm shift, the inclusion of cultures and religions that have increased in importance and influence in everyday life in Europe.
- There is a need for social integration measures which create the normal and integrated daily living conditions in host societies;
- There is an absolute need for convergence of regional and national policies, specific interventions of the various players and direct plans, directed at specific cases;
- Specific policies are urgent.
It should also be stressed that it is extremely important to have these spaces to discuss these moments of sharing good practices and the genuine experience on the ground of all the organisations represented in this seminar, so that our European project, which is based on PEACE, can be maintained for the future".
We hope to have achieved an even more valuable result from the seminars organised within the EZA network:
That the participating workers' organisations will seek to establish and coordinate action lines for integration into the labour market and the integration and social participation of migrants and refugees in Europe, combating discrimination, racism and xenophobia through the defence of European values, because after all humanism has a face, and it translates into concrete actions.