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.European Website on Integration. (2021, February 23). France: Priorités 2021 de la politique d'intégration des étrangers primo-arrivants [France: 2021 priorities of the integration policy for newcomers]. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/france-priorites-2021-de-… The circular confirmed that the focus remains on integration through employment,European Website on Integration. (2021, February 23). France: Priorités 2021 de la politique d'intégration des étrangers primo-arrivants [France: 2021 priorities of the integration policy for newcomers]. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/france-priorites-2021-de-… 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.European Website on Integration. (2021, December 15). France: AGIR, programme d’accompagnement vers l’emploi et le logement des réfugiés [France: AGIR, support program for employment and housing for refugees]. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/france-agir-programme-dac… The 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. European Website on Integration. (2021, March 25). National strategy on migration of the Republic of Bulgaria 2021-2025. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/national-stra… 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.European Website on Integration. (2021, November 30). Bulgaria begins development of its first Refugee Integration Manifesto. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/bulgaria-begins-developme…
The new National Strategy on Immigration for 2021-2024 was launched in Romania, including special objectives on integration.National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM). (2021, September 2). Romania: a new National Strategy on Immigration finally adopted. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/romania-a-new-national-strategy-on-immi… 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. National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM). (2021, September 30). Romania: The Coalition for the Rights of Migrants and Refugees is working on new advocacy plans. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/romania-the-coalition-for-the-rights-of…
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.European Website on Integration. (2021, September 8). Slovakia adopts new migration policy. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/slovakia-adopts-new-migra…
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.European Website on Integration. (2021, February 5). Guidelines for the Development of a Cohesive and Civically Active Society for 2021-2027. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/guidelines-de…; European Website on Integration. (2021, May 27). Plan for the development of a cohesive and civically active society for 2021-2023. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/plan-developm… 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. United Nations, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. (2021, March 30). Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Latvia. E/C.12/LVA/2. https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=4slQ6QSml…
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. Luxembourg Government | Le Gouvernement Luxembourgeois. (2021, July 13). Lancement des projets 2021 dans le cadre du Plan d'action national d'intégration [Launch of 2021 projects under the National Integration Action Plan]. https://mfamigr.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactua…
