146 Rue Royale
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 212 08 12
Fax: +32 2 514 59 22
Email: ecre@ecre.org
Website: www.ecre.org
Media for Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (MIRAS)
MIRAS strengthens the media work undertaken by ECRE’s network in order to advance positive policy outcomes in the field of refugee integration, as well as to promote the development of a welcoming environment that facilitates the successful integration of refugees and asylum seekers across Europe.
| Project Update March 2011
As part of the EPIM funded MIRAS project, ECRE held a seminar in Berlin at the end of last year. 28 press officers from the ECRE membership and other organisations working on these topics discussed their press and communications work around integration related issues such as the right to work for asylum seekers, integration requirements for refugees, the right to family life, and the problem of housing for refugees. In planning ahead, participants identified the Dublin system as a priority for our common media work, both from the point of view of integration and because of considerations on fair asylum procedures and member states’ capacities. Taking planning to practice, the ECRE alliance coordinated across Europe a media response to the judgment on M.S.S. v Belgium and Greece, where the ECtHR ruled that sending asylum seekers back to Greece violates the European Convention on Human Rights. This resulted in an extensive press coverage including ECRE’s line of argumentation. |
- Read more about the impact of project upto May 2011 here
Publications
ECRE Policy Briefing_Housing (2010)This policy briefing focuses on the implementation of CBP 6: ‘Access for immigrants to institutions, as well as to public and private goods and services, on a basis equal to national citizens and in a nondiscriminatory way is a critical foundation for better integration’, and CBP 7: ‘Frequent interaction between immigrants and Member State citizens is a fundamental mechanism for integration.
ECRE Policy Briefing_Introduction programmes & language courses NGO Network of Integration Focal Points (ECRE – 2007) This policy briefing focuses on the implementation of CBP 4: ‘Basic knowledge of the host society’s language, history, and institutions is indispensable to integration; enabling immigrants to acquire the basic knowledge is essential to successful integration.’
ECRE Policy Briefing_Employment and employment support NGO Network Integration Focal Points (2007) This policy briefing relates to the implementation of CPB 3: ‘Employment is a key part of the integration process and is central to the participation of immigration, to the contributions immigrants make to the receiving society, and to making such contributions visible’
ECRE Policy Briefing_Civic and political participationNGO Network of Integration Focal Points (ECRE 2007) This policy briefing focuses on the implementation of CBP 9: ‘The participation of immigrants in the democratic process and in the formulation of integration policies and measures, especially at the local level, supports their integration.’
ECRE Policy Briefing_Vocational training & higher education NGO Network of Integration Focal Points (ECRE 2007) This policy briefing relates to the implementation of CBP 5: ‘Efforts in education are critical to preparing immigrants, and particularly
their descendents, to be more successful and more active participants in society’ and CBP 3: ’Employment is a key part of the integration process and is central to the participation of immigration, to the contributions immigrants make to the receiving society, and to making such contributions visible’.
ECRE Policy Briefing_Vocational training & higher education
NGO Network of Integration Focal Points (ECRE 2007) Employment is acknowledged to be one of the most crucial areas for integration. While the CBPs pay particular respect to enhancing the opportunities of migrant entrepreneurship, there is not enough emphasis on education and training that leads to qualified employment. Here, the CBPs need to be seen in conjunction with each other: education, recognition of skills and qualifications, service provision by private and public bodies, language training and vocational training all need to be cross referenced to ensure that they do not form an end in themselves, but work together to enable labour market participation of refugees and migrants according to their skills and qualifications.
