Prof. Sergio Carrera, from the Migration Policy Centre, has recently collaborated with the Council of Europe on a new Issue Paper on human rights aspects of immigrant and refugee integration policies based on a comparative assessment of 11 member states.

This issue paper is prepared with a view to supporting Council of Europe member states in designing and implementing integration policies which guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of immigrants and refugees in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. It provides information on the application of the human rights standards of the Council of Europe and the legal standards of the European Union in the field of integration of immigrants and refugees. It analyses the human rights dimensions of integration policies in 11 Council of Europe member states which were selected on the basis of a combination of criteria including the high numbers of immigrants and refugees, the diversity of integration policies as well as geographical balance. The issue paper examines in particular how the enjoyment of the right to respect for private and family life and the security of residence of immigrants and refugees facilitate and improve integration policies. Through collecting and analysing information in a comparative approach the issue paper serves as a good tool for identifying good integration practices.

Mandatory language and civic integration policies present the highest challenges in the light of human rights standards. This is particularly visible in the phases of practical implementation of such policies, where certain groups of applicants may be more adversely affected by sanctions if they fail to pass integrative tests, exams or contracts. This is reinforced by the fact that integration measures are often not well designed for the specific needs of certain applicants and vulnerable groups, which increases the risk of discrimination. Additional conditions such as income thresholds, long waiting periods, housing requirements and reduced financial benefits further restrict family reunion and settlement by making procedures more burdensome and ineffective.

The issue paper concludes by recommending that policies promoting voluntary integration are preferable to obligatory integration policies because the latter may restrict immigrants’ and refugees’ human rights, increase the insecurity of residence for applicants and their families and present some discriminatory effects. Council of Europe member states should invest in voluntary and long-term integration policies aimed at overcoming legal and practical barriers to labour market insertion and securing adequate entitlements to health care services and housing for a dignified quality of living by immigrants and beneficiaries of international protection. This should go hand-in-hand with the development of robust and independent evaluation systems keeping track of the actual impacts and long-term effectiveness of current integration policies and their full compliance with human rights standards.

Read full press release: Council of Europe News .