Martin Baldwin-Edwards: European Immigrations: Trends, Structures and Policy Implications

Despite several decades of immigration management, it is indeed the case that policies for the integration of migrants are poorly developed in Southern Europe (Vermeulen 2004; Baldwin-Edwards 2004a). Equally, measurement of outcomes is rarely made and policies are difficult to evaluate. Nevertheless, some patterns can be observed. First, where there is a tradition of local state management (as in Spain and Italy), policies for immigrant welfare and social integration are frequently to be found, although they are non-uniform and uncoordinated (Zincone 1999; Zincone and Caponio 2006). Such policies are only now being developed in Greece, and only in Athens. Secondly, the Migration Policy Group has repeatedly carried out evaluations of legislation and policies relevant to the integration of migrants, with fairly consistent results over a number of years (MPG 2007)...Greece's higher ranking was achieved on the basis of legislation for voting rights and citizenship acquisition: these have now been blocked by the Supreme Administrative Court of Greece for alleged non-conformity with the constitution. In reality, little progress has been made...Read more