Europe’s migration patterns are changing, according to the EU expert
meeting “Integration of New Arrivals – Incentives and Work in Focus”,
held in Malmø between 15 and 16 December 2009.
Permanent Secretary for the Danish Integration
Ministry, Claes Nilas, explained how things had changed between
2003 and 2008 in terms of who and how many had been granted permits of
stay in Denmark.
There’s been a clear trend – a marked increase in
the number of labour immigrants, students and citizens from other
EU/EEA countries who have been granted permits of stay in Denmark, and
a clear fall in the number people granted family reunion, asylum or
humanitarian stay.
Claes Nilas also said Denmark actively seeks more
qualified foreigners who can be swiftly integrated at work or through
education. The government also wants more immigrants to improve their
language skills, fewer immigrants left outside the labour market and a
better integration of immigrants into Danish society. To achieve a
better integration rate the government is increasing its use of
incentives and puts more emphasis on results.
Just over a year ago the then Minister of
Employment, Claus Hjorth Frederiksen, said there were fewer unemployed
in Denmark than could fit inside the Copenhagen stadium. Since the
economic crisis unemployment has rocketed. But it is not expected to
last. Europe’s demographic development means many countries are now
hunting for qualified labour immigrants.
At the EU expert meeting on integration of new
arrivals many pointed to a policy change in several European countries
– from a humanitarian perspective to satisfying national labour
needs.
Constantinos Fotakis, migration co-ordinator in the
EU Commission, quoted French President Nicolas Sarkozy: Une migration
choisie – une migration réussie; a chosen migration is a successful
migration. Don’t simply look at the number of people, he said – we
mustn’t believe there is no discrimination between labour immigrants
and asylum seekers. He doesn’t believe any country would refuse
humanitarian refugees, but points out you can already see how the total
mix is about to change.
“The balance between humanitarian and utilitarian
migration is changing.”
There are signs that countries not only choose
their labour immigrants, but they also want to pick the right refugees
from UN refugee camps.
“Sweden has not changed its attitude,” said Angeles
Bermudez-Svankvist, director general at the Swedish Public Employment
Service. She is in charge of the reforms needed for the new integration
policy which will come into effect in December 2010.
“We aim for an individual approach and prepare to
work in a different way than we’re used to,” she said.
“Working is a human right and we must appreciate
the added value a job has to people’s health.”
But at this conference she too saw a new tendency
to change migration policies in many countries. It’s a tendency that
worries her.
“I’m worried we’ll see a change from a humanitarian
to an economical perspective.
“I also sense that attitudes to migration issues
have hardened. I fear we could see more phobias against religions which
could polarise society in a dangerous way.”
