4.14.3.4. Evaluating integration plans and support

To support evidence-based policymaking, various stakeholders, including national authorities, academia, think tanks and civil society organisations, continued to evaluate components of integration programmes throughout 2022. Lessons learnt through efforts to integrate beneficiaries of temporary protection will provide further insights on the impact of different approaches in the future.

Finalising the 6-year transnational project to establish a mechanism for a biennial, comprehensive evaluation of the integration of beneficiaries of international protection, the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism project delivered the second set of national evaluation reports for Bulgaria,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Национален доклад NIEM Интеграцията на бежанци в България 2021: Всеобхватен мониторингов доклад [NIEM National Report. Refugee integration in Bulgaria 2021: Comprehensive Monitoring Report]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Czechia,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (June 2022). Integrace držitelů mezinárodní ochrany v ČR [Integration of international protection beneficiaries in the Czech Republic]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… France,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Une politique d'intégration à la mesure des enjeux? [An integration policy which rises to the challenges?]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Greece,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). National Report on the Evaluation Mechanism of the integration of beneficiaries of international protection. Greece 2022. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Hungary,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). National Integration Evaluation Mechanism National Report on Hungary. 1 January 2020 - 24 February 2022. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Italy,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Beneficiaries of international protection and integration in Italy. Regulations, policies, data and challenges. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Latvia,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (April 2022). NIEM Evaluation 2. Latvian integration system 2019 – 2021: Stagnation before positive change? http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Lithuania,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Pabėgėlių integracija Europoje atsakingas požiūris. Projekto „Nacionalinis Integracijos Vertinimo Mechanizmas“ (NIEM) Nacionalinė Ataskaita (III) [A responsible approach to refugee integration in Europe. Project "National Integration Assessment Mechanism' (NIEM) National Report (III)]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… the Netherlands,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Integration of beneficiaries of international protection in the Netherlands: third set of results from the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM). http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Poland,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Integracja uchodźczyń i uchodźców w Polsce. Niemal równe prawa, nierówne szanse [Integration of refugee women and refugees in Poland. Almost equal rights, unequal opportunities]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… Slovenia,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). National Integration Evaluation Mechanism Slovenia. Report for 2020-2021. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… SpainNational Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Informe Nacional para España, NIEM 2022. Sobre el sistema de acogida e integración para solicitantes y beneficiarios de protección internacional [National Report for Spain, NIEM 2022. On the reception and integration system of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection]. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… and Sweden.National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Measuring refugee integration policies in Sweden. Results from the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism 2021. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/evaluation-2-national-reports/dnl/1… The summary presents the achievements and recommendations of the project.National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). National Integration Evaluation Mechanisms (NIEM) in 14 EU Member States. Project summary 2016-2022. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/national-integration-evaluation-mec… Thematic outputs in 2022 addressed the participation of beneficiaries of international protection in the public sphere,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Participation of beneficiaries of international protection in the public sphere. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/participation-of-beneficiaries-of-i… the impact of underdeveloped integration policies for beneficiaries of international protection,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Caught by surprise? How underdeveloped refugee integration policies will impede the integration of those displaced by the war in Ukraine. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/caught-by-surprise-how-underdevelop… the challenge to integrate persons in need of temporary protection, the response of Latvia and Lithuania on the influx of irregular migrants from Belarus,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Comparative report on the influx of irregular migrants across the border of Belarus: the responsibility of the governments of Lithuania and Latvia. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/comparative-report-on-the-influx-of… a refugees’ perspectives on integration policies in Czechia,National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Integration at first hand: reception, adaptation and integration in the Czech Republic from the perspective of refugees themselves. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/integration-at-first-hand-reception… and data gaps in refugee integration in Europe.National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. (2022). Data gaps in refugee integration in Europe: a comparative assessment of data availability in 14 EU countries. http://www.forintegration.eu/pl/pub/data-gaps-in-refugee-integration-in…

In Croatia, the Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities published a report on the social inclusion of persons granted international protection, evaluating integration policies using different indicators.Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities | Ured za ljudska prava i prava nacionalnih manjina. (2022). Social inclusion of persons granted international protection in the Republic of Croatia. https://pravamanjina.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Include_Social%20I…

The German BAMF published an analysis of the internal mobility of persons with a protection status who have entered the country between 2015 and 2019. Married, displaced women between 30 and 49 years were particularly immobile and not likely to move from one place to another. Persons over 49 years (for both sexes) were also considered to be very immobile. Urban areas remained the most attractive for beneficiaries of international protection, even though these areas had a relatively high level of unemployment.Federal Office for Migration and Refugees | Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. (2022, March 23). The internal mobility of refugees with protection status in Germany. https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Forschung/Forschungsberichte/…

The French Scientific Committee for the Evaluation of the Plan for Investing in Skills evaluated the inclusion of labour market integration measures in local policies for the integration of beneficiaries of international protection. The assessment involved eight departments on policies which were implemented during 2018-2021. The report found that coordination was progressing among the various measures but some fragmentation remained. Labour market measures seemed to be particularly impacted by the lack of accommodation, thus the committee suggested to involve stakeholders implementing social housing measures.European Website on Integration. (2022, August 25). France: L'intégration professionnelle des réfugiés [France: integration of refugees in the labour market]. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/france-linteg…

The Swedish Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy researched the impact of the length of the asylum procedure on integration and found that beneficiaries who had to wait longer for their final decision had lower earnings.European Website on Integration. (2022, February 2). Sweden: Long waiting times for asylum seekers delay integration. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/sweden-long-w…

The Council of Europe published a report assessing integration policies in Cyprus, looking also into the specific challenges of beneficiaries of international protection.Council of Europe. (April 2022). Baseline overview and assessment of integration policies in the Republic of Cyprus. https://rm.coe.int/cyprus-baseline-assessment-integration-policies/1680… https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/baseline-over…

Researcher in Greece evaluated refugee integration measures which were adopted after an assessment of court decisions and integration indicators in the field of housing, health care, social services, education and employment. The authors acknowledged the challenge to integrate continuous flows of refugees from different countries and cultures, and argued that more human and financial resources were necessary to be able to establish accessible, good quality services for integration.Gazi, T., Kalantzi, E., & Alcoverro Adrià (2022). Integrating beneficiaries of international protection in Greece: an overview of the legal framework, guarantees, and barriers. The International Journal of Community Diversity, 22(2), 15–25. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362909802_Integrating_Benefici…

The Rockwool Foundation and University College London analysed Danish integration policies over 40 years and found that reduced social benefits and early job training improved the employment rate of beneficiaries of international protection in short run. But early job training may not have long-term consequences, the participants will be less likely to learn the necessary language skills to find higher-paying jobs. In contrast, targeted placement and language courses have a positive long-term effect on the salaries and employment opportunities of beneficiaries. Restricting criteria or permanent residence may hinder the integration of less-resourceful groups, which may discouraged by strict criteria.European Website on Integration. (2022, March 28). Denmark: Learning from 40 years of refugee integration policies. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/denmark-learning-40-years…

The Danish Institute of Human Rights focused on the impact of changes in the rules for a beneficiary to obtain a residence permit and noted several legal uncertainties in the process of withdrawing international protection.European Website on Integration. (2022, June 23). Denmark: Changes to asylum practice and residence permits. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/denmark-changes-asylum-pr… Civil society organisations published a joint position paper arguing to re-introduce more stable permits and to count periods of education as work experience for the purpose of the permit.European Website on Integration. (2022, June 23). Denmark: Changes to asylum practice and residence permits. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/denmark-changes-asylum-pr…

Aditus foundation and the Jesuit Refugee Service Malta investigated the socio-economic integration of beneficiaries of international protection and concluded that they had little chance to emerge from poverty and social exclusion. The report notes that the lack of language and vocational training during the reception phase were missed opportunities that could support prospective beneficiaries towards self-sufficiency. The organisations urged policymakers to revise legislation and allow beneficiaries of international protection to vote in national elections and hold public positions.

In addition, the organisations requested the government to tackle racism in a firm manner.JRS Malta. (2022, July 14). Poverty and social exclusion 'unavoidable reality for asylum seekers'. https://jrsmalta.org/poverty-and-social-exclusion-unavoidable-reality-f…; aditus foundation, & JRS Malta. (December 2021). In pursuit of livelihood: An in-depth investigation of asylum seekers’ battle against poverty and social exclusion in Malta. https://jrsmalta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Povert-Research-Booklet… Indeed, aditus foundation issued a press statement expressing its concerns over violence against and exploitation of migrants, including beneficiaries of international protection.aditus foundation. (2022, November 21). Where’s the respect? – There is no us without them. https://aditus.org.mt/press-statement-wheres-the-respect-there-is-no-us… Following reports of police violence against black people,The Malta Independent (2022, October 11). Home Affairs Minister pleased with how police handled abduction charges against three officers. https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-10-11/local-news/Home-Affa… the Malta Refugee Council welcomed the swift action and the zero tolerance approach of the Malta Police Force to investigate the serious allegations.Malta Refugee Council. (2022, October 8). Malta Refugee Council welcomes the police force’s response to allegations of violent assaults on black people by its own officers. https://maltarefugeecouncil.org.mt/Press-Statement-MALTA-REFUGEE-COUNCI…

The Bulgarian Red Cross commissioned a study on public attitudes towards refugees, which showed a positive change in the attitudes of citizens, with 62% having a positive or rather positive opinion. In 2022, 49% indicated they felt empathy towards refugees, a number which was only 3% in 2017.European Website on Integration. (2022, September 28). Bulgaria: Study shows positive change in public attitude towards refugees. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/bulgaria-study-shows-posi…

Lithuanian NGOs came to similar conclusions and observed that hostility towards refugees decreased in 2022 and the share of residents supporting integration measures also increased. However, the survey in Lithuania also found that the majority of people still considered the impact of beneficiaries of international protection as a negative one on the host society.European Website on Integration. (2022, November 16). Lithuania: Public attitudes towards refugees in 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/lithuania-public-attitude…

A publication from the think tank ODI examined public attitudes towards refugees in Poland and noted a dichotomy in perceptions between ‘not real’ and ‘genuine’ refugees, depending on the country of origin. While those arriving from Ukraine were seen as in need of support, the report warns that the positive narrative might change in the long term with concerns about rising living costs.Overseas Development Institute. (January 2023). Public narratives and attitudes towards refugees and other migrants. Poland country profile. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/system/files/2023-01/Public_na…; European Website on Integration. (2023, January 5). Poland: Public narratives and attitudes towards refugees and other migrants. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/poland-public… Researchers presented selected integration practices at the local level in Warsaw, which could inspire policies in other cities which are less experienced with migrant and refugee integration.Wach, D., & Pachocka, M. (2022). Polish Cities and Their Experience in Integration Activities – The Case of Warsaw. Studies in European Affairs | Studia Europejskie, 26(2), 89–105. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362335614_Polish_Cities_and_Th… Another paper focused on the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Krakow.Konrad Pędziwiatr, Jan Brzozowski, & Olena Nahorniuk. (2022). Refugees from Ukraine in Kraków (Poland). Cracow University of Economics. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364817040_Refugees_from_Ukrain…; Multiculturalism and Migration Observatory - Cracow University of Economics. (2023). Input to the Asylum Report 2023. https://euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2023-02/multiculturalism_and…

In Croatia, the Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities, as part of the Intersectoral Cooperation in the Empowerment of the Third-Country Nationals (INCLuDE) project, analysed media coverage in 2018 and 2019 of migrants in the country, especially beneficiaries of international protection and resettled refugees. The analysis will help to formulate guidelines and recommendations for media reporting.European Website on Integration. (2022, June 30). Media representations of migration - discursive constructions of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Croatian media. https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/media-represe…; Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities | Ured za ljudska prava i prava nacionalnih manjina. (2022). INCLuDE. Media representations on migration: Discursive constructions of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Croatian media. https://ljudskaprava.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Media%20representa…