The revision of integration acts continued with many legislative pieces entering into force throughout 2021.

 

The Slovak government adopted a draft amendment to the Asylum Act, defining and regulating the initial integration of beneficiaries of international protection. The amendments are expected to enter into force in June 2022. The amendment extends the provision of a one-time financial contribution to foreigners who have been granted subsidiary protection and introduces an integration allowance to all beneficiaries of international protection. Social and psychological counselling and a cultural orientation course will be provided as part of the initial integration process, and integration centres will be able to provide accommodation not only for refugees but also for foreigners who have been granted subsidiary protection.European Website on Integration. (2022, January 26). Slovakia eases refugee access to integration in June 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/slovakia-eases-refugee-ac…

 

A new Integration Act was adopted in Norway in 2020 and entered into force in January 2021. The changes put more emphasis on training participants in the introduction programme (mostly refugees) on the skills required by Norwegian employers or needed to qualify for further education. The new legislation made the mapping of skills and career guidance mandatory before beginning the introduction programme and changed the provision of language support from required hours to a required level. The previous standard 2-year programme was replaced by a wider range of programmes from 3 months to 3 years. Directorate of Integration and Diversity | Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet. (2022, March 1). Lov om integrering [Integration Act]. https://www.imdi.no/kvalifisering/regelverk/ny-integreringslov/

 

The new Civic Integration Law entered into force on 1 January 2022 in the Netherlands, where newcomers under integration obligation are guided through the process by municipalities.Government | Rijksoverheid. (2022, May 3). Wet inburgering 2021 [Civic Integration Act 2021]. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/inburgeren-in-nederland/nieuwe…  The Education Agency started to impose this integration obligation from the beginning of the year but had to temporarily halt this process until March 2022, as for some persons still the old legislation from 2013 should apply. Government | Rijksoverheid. (2022, January 27). Complicatie in uitvoering nieuwe inburgeringswet [Complication in the implementation of the new Civic Integration Act]. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/inburgeren-in-nederland/nieuws…; Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment Opportunities | Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid. (2022, February 23). Opleggen inburgeringsplicht hervat [The imposition of integration obligation resumed]. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-sociale-zaken-e…

 

Changes to the integration path entered into force in the Flemish region of Belgium. The new programme includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation, social networking and participation) and concludes with an exam. The compulsory programme is subject to a EUR 360 fee. The changes were highly debated throughout its adoption process.European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). (2021). EASO Asylum Report 2021: Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union. https://euaa.europa.eu/easo-asylum-report-2021; European Website on Integration. (2021, July 1). Belgium: Major changes to Flanders' integration programmes. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/belgium-major-changes-fla… The French-speaking Brussels Community Commission – the francophone government of Brussels – announced that the city’s integration programme became mandatory on 1 January 2022, and those who fail to comply receive a fine.European Website on Integration. (2021, November 18). Francophone Brussels government to improve reception and integration provisions. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/francophone-brussels-gove…

 

The Finnish parliament reviewed the effectiveness of migrant integration in the country in 2019, and the government started preparations for a comprehensive action plan following that report.European Union Agency for Asylum. (2020). EASO Asylum Report 2020: 7.12. Content of protection. https://euaa.europa.eu/easo-asylum-report-2020/7127-integration   The Equality Ombudsperson provided positive feedback in spring 2021 on the government’s draft report on the need to reform integration support.Equality Ombudsman | Yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutettu. (2021, March 12). Yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutetun lausunto hallituksen luonnoksesta selonteoksi kotoutumista edistävien palvelujen uudistamistarpeesta [Opinion of the Equality Ombudsman on the Government's draft report on the need to reform integration services]: General comments on the report. https://syrjinta.fi/-/yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutetun-lausunto-hallituksen-l…  The draft is foreseen to be presented to the Finnish parliament in September 2022. Government proposal to Parliament for an Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration: TEM100:00/2019, Project status, May 2022. https://tem.fi/en/project?tunnus=TEM100:00/2019  In parallel to this process and building on consultations with NGO activists of immigrant background, the Finnish National Coalition Party – currently in opposition – published its own proposals for amendments in June 2021. European Website on Integration. (2021, July 23). Finnish National Coalition Party proposes changes to immigration and integration policy. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/finnish-national-coalitio…