Over the past two days (October 2014), civil society experts from around Europe met in Malta to discuss the assessment and monitoring of migrant integration. The meeting is part of the ASSESS project, which focuses on three vulnerable migrant groups – women, children and trafficked persons. The project is implemented in Malta by the human rights think tank, the People for Change Foundation.
The participating countries represent Europe’s different migration patterns and experiences in dealing with migration and integration issues. It is being implemented in five "old" member states having considerable immigrant inflow; Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain and five “new” member states with "evolving" immigration patterns and regimes; Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. The partnership includes academic institutions, policy and research institutes and NGOs.
The measurement, monitoring and evaluation of integration remain relatively new concepts, however governments are increasingly adapting policies to respond to the needs of a rapidly diversifying European population. At the same time, vulnerable migrant groups are not identified in the mainstream monitoring and evaluation of integration and integration policies of the participating member states.
Besides identifying recent measures undertaken by the EU and efforts made towards the development and harmonization of integration policies and measures, the project aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses in the application of the Common Basic Principles on Migrant Integration, vis-à-vis the integration of vulnerable migrant groups. It will also compile and disseminate promising practices from across the European Union.
