Political participation of migrants: Cities & regions in a European perspective

Political participation of migrants: Cities & regions in a European perspective

15 years as an independent policy ‘think-and-do-tank’

Mission: lasting and positive change for open and inclusive societies • better informed European debate and action on migration, equality and

diversity;• greater European cooperation between & within sectors

4 activities: • Establish expert networks• Compare and analyse policies• Engage more stakeholders at EU level• Create new opportunities for dialogue and mutual learning

Migration Policy Group

MIPEX: Tool to compare, analyse, and improve integration policy

• Do all residents have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities to help them improve their integration outcomes?

• Benchmark policies and implementation measures, according to European & international standards on Equal Treatment

• Public “Quick Reference Guide”

• Debate government objectives, progress, and results

Key Findings

50%: Halfway favourable Political will counts, more than traditionStronger laws with EU

Citizenship & political participation often similar & weak, esp. new immigration countriesAll policies often related

CoE Convention on Nationality 166 (1997)**9/100 ‘unfavourable for integration’

Convention **Among MIPEX countries, only in force for AT, BG, CZ, DK, FI, DE, HU, NL, NO, PT, RO, SK, SE (Few, mostly Central Europe)

Transformation from countries of emigration-to-immigration (DE, LU...)

3 principles from longer immigration (US,CA) & inclusive countries (FR,UK)• Short residence requirement (3-7 yrs total)• Some ius soli (15)• Dual nationality (18)

• Principles can give way when sovereignty fears or far right hold sway…

Access to nationalityEU Area of Weakness

Even so, discretionary procedures discourage many from being citizens.•Vague/high language•Uneven support for integration test•Half make conditional upon job/income•Only 10 limit discretion•Few ‘Hold-outs’ don’t yet tolerate dual nationality

CoE Convention on Participation of foreigners in public life at local level 144 (1992)**

37/100 not wholly unfavourable for integration

**Among MIPEX countries, only in force for DK, FI, IT, NL, NO, SEConvention

Despite renewed interest (e.g. PT, ES), major reform & political will needed.

Only half EU countries open non-EU voting rights

Few consultative bodies, often not strong or independent enough to serve aims (come & go)

Structural bodies in half; often based on national system

Free elections or nominations by immigrants or NGOs in half; especially national and older bodies

Representative of nationality or gender in most; both or more in few

Few immigrants hold/share Chair; more in local, older, elected bodies

All policies affecting immigrants addressed in most

Activities for bodies with greatest mandates

Right to initiative in most; right to response in only Norway, Spain

Consultative bodiesAreas of strength