Churches and Church-linked organisations call upon the EU to incorporate the ‘Essential Elements for Migration Policy’ advocated in the document ‘Integrating Migrants – Integrating Societies’, ahead of International Migrants’ Day on 18 December 2004.
The organisations – Caritas Europa, the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe
(CCME), the Secretariat of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the International Catholic Migration Commission, the Jesuit
Refugee Service Europe (JRS) and the Quaker Council for European Affairs – propose an holistic approach to integration policy, which should be a continuous two way process.
They advocate that “efforts should be expected from migrants to integrate but at the same time efforts are needed from society at large.” They also underline that respect of migrant’s human rights is key to successful integration.
In this two way process, they prioritise the importance of civic participation of migrants, early integration measures, the protection of family life, inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, and the development of skills programmes in order for migrants to access labour markets.
The organisations continue to be concerned that EU Member States tend to agree on common standards at the lowest possible level, and that ‘failed’ integration receives far more attention than successful integration, which is hardly recognised.