Welcome to the Migration Policy Group

Our Work in Use

Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency uses MIPEX

March 12, 2013

Comments Off

A major study by the German Federal Anti-discrimination Agency (FADA) uses MIPEX to compare Germany to other countries. The study cites MIPEX as a useful tool to understand integration policies in a comparative perspective.

“Der MIPEX ist ein hilfreiches Instrument, um einen Überblick über Integrationspoliti-ken im Vergleich zu gewinnen. In diesem Sinn ist der Befund, dass Deutschlands Anti-diskriminierungspolitik mit Platz 22 unter dem Durchschnitt liegt, als eine Aufforde-rung an Deutschland zu betrachten, seine Antidiskriminierungspolitik als ein Aspekt von Integration genauer zu analysieren und zu evaluieren.”

The study can be downloaded here (in DE).

The European Parliament Welcomes the European Web Site on Integration

March 1, 2013

Comments Off

Its its February 2013 Report on the integration of migrants, its effects on the labour market and the external dimension of social security coordination, the European Parliament welcomes the European Web Site on Integration (EWSI), maintained by MPG, as part of the existing EU instruments for the formulation of integration policies:

“Welcomes the existing EU instruments for the formulation of integration policies, for example the network of National Contact Points on Integration, the European integration website, the European Handbook on Integration, the European Integration Fund, the Asylum and Migration Fund, the EU immigration portal and the European integration modules”

The report further calls for a ”‘one-stop-shop’ website for aspiring entrepreneurs which would provide information on opportunities and challenges, on European and national subsidies, and on organisations and bodies providing assistance in the field of self-employment“.

The European Web Site on Integration already contains a wealth of good practices and documents pertaining to immigrant entrepreneurship and self-employment. Read the EWSI Editorial Team’s Integration Dossier on this subject, published in 2012.

Our Work in Context

Growing calls for political parties to be reflect more society’s diversity

May 19, 2013

Comments Off

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is the latest prominent political figure to call for his party to open up to and reflect more society’s diversity. This follows a last year warning from party co-chair Baroness Warsi that “Conservatives will not win election without more focus on minority voters“.

t2-338-PoliticalParties_OnlineDiverstyTool_web

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking a facelift of the CDU ahead of the next elections, aiming at more women and immigrants in party posts.

At European level, the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament recently called for an extension of voting rights to immigrants. On the other side of the spectrum, the European People’s Party think-tank concentrates on how diversity and equality can be better reflected in internal party operations.

MPG’s recent toolkit on Becoming a Party of choice includes a benchmarking tool to help parties opening to diversity and equality, from voters and candidates to staff and suppliers. A new project, DivPol, was launched earlier this year to build on MPG’s successful tool.

Nearly 40% of transgender persons experience discrimination when looking for a job

May 16, 2013

Comments Off

According to the recent EU LGBT survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency and the Trans Rights Europe Map & Index 2013 by Transgender Europe, nearly 40% of transgender persons experience discrimination when looking for a job. About three in 10 of all transgender respondents said they were victims of violence or threats of violence more than three times in the past year.

Trans and intersex people, gender expression_LegalNet thematic report

To better understand how transgender persons experience discrimination, read our report Discrimination against trans and intersex people on the grounds of sex, gender identity and gender expression.

The report extensively examines the influence of EU law, including case law, on trans discrimination and provides case studies of national legislation and case-law on gender identity and gender expression discrimination of some Member States where there are promising approaches which can and should serve as models for others to follow.

Events and Speaking Engagements

European Web Site on Integration Editorial Board meeting – 6 and 7 June 2013 – Brussels (Belgium)

May 16, 2013

Comments Off

Presentation of the European Web Site on Integration to the National Contact Points – 3 June 2013 – Brussels (Belgium)

May 15, 2013

Comments Off

KIM Biennial International Conference “Belonging” (Oslo, Norway)

May 14, 2013

Comments Off

2013 Demography Forum – Enhancing employment for the next 20 years: where investments count (Brussels, Belgium)

May 6, 2013

Comments Off

Immigrant Citizens Survey (summary)

April 3, 2013

Comments Off

The Immigrant Citizens Survey asks immigrants to assess their aspirations and needs for integration and then evaluate how effective policies are in meeting them. The pilot starts in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain

For policy actors to fully understand the integration process and their impact on it, they need to go beyond asking the general public and reach out to the beneficiaries of their policies and services themselves. We know what the different laws and policies are across Europe (see the Migrant Integration Policy Index—but we do not know which policies are working in practice and, above all, why or why not.

This knowledge gap can be overcome by a representative survey among non-EU immigrants— by directly asking about policy impact and by formulating the survey so that the results are comparable and easy-to-use by civil society. Immigrants as direct beneficiaries need to be asked questions on key integration areas: about their background; integration goals; awareness of current policy; trust in implementing actors; reasons for/against participation, levels of satisfaction; observed benefits; and recommendations.

more details

Situation Testing (summary)

April 3, 2013

Comments Off

situation-testing-summary

The handbook Proving discrimination cases: the role of Situation Testing has been jointly developed by MPG and the Swedish Centre for Equal Rights.

The publication provides an analysis of Situation Testing, with a comparative overview of its use in various cases in Europe and provides guidelines to the targets of discrimination and their organisations on conducting situation testing.

It explains how cases have been adjudicated by the courts; examines the difficulties as well as the opportunities related to situation testing; and outlines the need for stringent and strategic application of the situation testing method.

The objective of the Situation Testing project is to raise awareness of the technique of situation testing, discuss the use of it in purposes other than litigation and conclude on the best way to expand its application to the public sector.

The project involves the participation of 3 countries: France, Belgium and Hungary, selected due to their wide experience on situation-testing, recognition by the courts as a means of evidence, and usage in various circumstances.

more details