The French EU Presidency's whistle-stop tour of European capitals in preparation for a restrictive immigration and integration policy has hit a major roadblock: Spain. As one of the EU Member States who has profited both from regular and illegal migration (the Spanish government has issued a number of amnesties for illegals over the years), Prime Minister Zapatero has rebuffed French plans for the creation of an integration contract obligation, which requires immigrants adjust to their recieving country's “national identity.”
Experts now expect a watered down version of the original proposal to be presented by the French Presidency. In absence of the Lisbon Reform Treaty, whose ratification as is now looks unlikely following the Irish referendum, immigration policy falls under the remit of member state governments assembled in the European Council, rather than the European Parliament. As has been the case for previous immigration proposals and those pretaining to the free movement of so-called 'third country nationals’ a ‘lowest common denominator’ solution with respect to immigration can be expected.
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Thanks Cathryn, this is great!! Ill post more on this issue soon as well!
Cheers,
Rich
this plan that would require immigrants to sign an integration pact undermines their cultural identity and cultural rights. we are indeed interested in having immigrants integrate and learn a national language, go to school and respect the equality of men and women, among other things—and while the intentions might be good on paper, this text represents an implausible solution to the integration problems of Europe. In France particularly, the integration problems and the riots that occurred a few years back were not due to the current or past immigrants’ unwillingness to integrate, but rather, with systems that are in place which do not allow (or make it hard) for immigrants and their children, second generation immigrants, to integrate when they are forced to live in ghettos, underdeveloped areas where resources are few, violence is high, schools are overpopulated and drugs and gangs rule.
Immigrants need to be recognized for what they can bring into the country, not only for what they “take” from the host country. Immigrants go to a country in search of better opportunities, to contribute to society, to educate their children and to provide for their families. They mostly do the type of work that no other citizens want to do or take, no matter what the unemployment rates are looking like: “dirty, demeaning and dangerous”jobs. Instead of following Mr. Sarkozy's plan, what Europe should do is follow Spain's example: provide paths for legalization, and let these citizens contribute taxes, stop living in fear of deportation, balance the demographic age gap, work the jobs that no one wants, be innovative and create job opportunities and thriving communities, revive neighborhoods, introduce new cultures and foods.
In a world that become increasingly interconnected and globalized, We should be celebrating and embracing diversity, not restricting it.
Immigrants should be allowed to have their cultural and legal rights, all within the context of human rights in Europe.
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