(ENAR - European Network Against Racism) As a reflection of the debates in the Member States, the current EU debate on integration repeatedly combines the issues of migration and integration by maintaining a restrictive approach to integration policy focusing primarily on the integration of Third-Country Nationals. As a typical example, the 2004 EU Common Basic Principles on integration have been developed within the broader framework of the management of migration and its consequences, and therefore primarily concern migrants and Third-Country Nationals. However, people from a migrant background born in Europe or people from a European minority ethnic or religious background can no longer be considered as migrants as they are facing an entirely different set of challenges and hurdles in their integration process - many of which are certainly more akin to the integration/inclusion issues faced by specific economic classes of the majority community (in terms of poverty, underachievement in education, etc.). 

The linkages between anti-discrimination, integration and social inclusion therefore need to be rethought to develop a new approach to this policy area and enhance policy coherence. It is important that EU integration policies not only focus on new arrivals, but on the social inclusion of all migrants and minorities, irrespective of when they arrived in the EU.

At a time when EU institutions are developing a new strategy on integration in the EU, and where integration has been explicitly mentioned as part of the EU’s broader strategy for jobs and growth for the next 10 years[1], ENAR advocates for a departure from the current EU and national approaches to integration as a subset of migration policies towards an approach to integration as a cross-cutting field that can be applied in the framework of specific policy areas: migration, social inclusion, citizenship, intercultural dialogue, education, and job activation. ENAR in this way aims to develop a better understanding of integration, freed from institutional approaches that are disconnected from grassroots realities, and consequently devise better paradigms, tools and measures to foster the development of integration paths most relevant to the specific needs of particular communities and their individuals.

As a first step, this publication will aim to analyse the intersections between the anti-discrimination, social inclusion and integration agendas recognising that these concepts are intrinsically linked. It will aim to provide a conceptual reflection on how the current approach to integration needs to be rethought by promoting a wider understanding of ‘integration’ to address the social inclusion of all migrants and minorities in the EU, and by promoting a whole society vision where real equality for all is achieved.

The publication will provide a first reflection on a more progressive approach to integration and will be an advocacy tool for ENAR members and others to seek to ensure the establishment an approach to integration that goes beyond migration, as a key reference and guiding document for all EU policies and actions /decisions taken by EU institutions.

Objectives of the publication

Overall objective:

Provide a conceptual analysis of EU integration policy by rethinking the current institutional approaches to devise a new paradigm that would better address the specific issues of today’s society and by looking into the specific needs of particular communities and individuals in Europe.

Specific objectives:

Provide a general assessment of the EU approach to integration policy and social inclusion policy;

Analyse the shortfalls of the current fragmented debate and explain how/why such an approach was originally developed;

Highlight how today’s approach omits to tackle the concerns of all migrants and minorities in the EU;

Highlight the synergies between anti-discrimination, social inclusion and integration;

Highlight some examples of specific challenges and hurdles faced by second or third generation migrants, Roma, and other ethnic /religious minorities in the EU, in the framework of specific policy areas such as employment, job activation, education etc;

Highlight the advantages of adopting a more inclusive approach and how such approach will contribute to the fight against racism and discrimination;

Analyse the implications of the Lisbon Treaty in increasing policy coherence, including the role of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as it pertains to minority rights and social rights, and on the role of civil society in developing a comprehensive EU integration policy;

Provide suggestions on how to use the existing instruments to increase policy coherence;

Provide new lines of thinking for the network to foster the development of a more inclusive approach to integration policy most relevant to the specific needs of particular communities and individuals.

List of relevant documents

The author of the publication will be asked to identify relevant documents.

Technical details

The contracted author should demonstrate extensive knowledge of EU integration policy as well as anti-discrimination and social inclusion policy (EU social agenda and EU 2020 strategy). The identified author should preferably have experience in the broader fundamental rights area including anti-racism.

The text of the publication should not be longer than 30-35 pages. The author will be asked to structure the text as clearly as possible to meet the objectives of the publication. Clear and easily understandable language should be used to convey the subject. A contract outlining the conditions and requirements for cooperation with the author will be signed.

The author will be contracted by 1 October 2010, with a first draft to be submitted to ENAR by 10 January 2010, and a final draft to be submitted on 7 February 2011.

Proposal procedure

Proposals should include:

A letter of application, including a statement of expertise

A one-page elaboration of the content of the study

One relevant writing sample in English

A one-page elaboration on methodology

A detailed price offer, all costs and VAT included

The deadline for applications is 20 September 2010.

Proposals should be marked "ENAR Publication: Integration beyond Migration" and sent to the ENAR Secretariat, by email or post:

60 rue Gallait, B-1030 Bruxelles, Belgium

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You can also click here to go to ENAR website.