4.14.3.1. Developing and updating integration strategies

Following several changes and updates to integration plans in 2020, in 2021 Member States focused on their implementation, and relatively few new strategies were presented.

The French Minister responsible for citizenship issued a circular to define priorities for 2021 for the integration of newly-arrived migrants and beneficiaries of international protection.1142 The circular confirmed that the focus remains on integration through employment,1143 and as a follow-up, the launching of the AGIR programme was announced in December 2021, which proposes an individualised and comprehensive 20-month integration pathway to all beneficiaries of international protection, focusing on housing and employment.1144The programme was progressively rolled out in 2022 in 27 departments and is planned to be extended to the whole territory of France for 2024.

The National Strategy on Migration was adopted in Bulgaria for the period 2021-2025, including a chapter on integration, which mentions that policies are implemented with AMIF funding but no specific areas for improvement are listed. 1145 As an initiative from non-state actors, the Multi Kulti Collective, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and UNHCR Bulgaria started to develop the country’s first Refugee Integration Manifesto, which is planned to be used as an advocacy document to shape the integration of beneficiaries of international protection at national and local levels.1146

The new National Strategy on Immigration for 2021-2024 was launched in Romania, including special objectives on integration.1147 The Coalition for the Rights of Migrants and Refugees, bringing together relevant stakeholders from the country in the framework of a civil society initiative, met to follow up on this strategy and discuss advocacy plans. 1148

The Slovak government adopted a new strategic document on migration policy, underlining the strengthened need for local-level integration of beneficiaries of international protection, including high-quality education for children and the continued offer of Slovak language classes.1149

The Latvian government adopted in February 2021 a general policy planning document entitled “Guidelines for the Development of a Cohesive and Civically Active Society for 2021-2027”, followed by an action plan, outlining activities also for the integration of foreigners.1150 The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern over the low level of integration of beneficiaries of international protection in Latvia and recommended the development of a targeted strategy for their social and economic integration. 1151

In the framework of the National Action Plan for Integration in Luxembourg, 10 projects were launched for the period of 2021-2022, focusing on diversity, fighting against discrimination and language learning. ¹¹⁵²