Portugal: New Challenges and Political Opportunity Structures for Immigrant s

1. Conference – ‘Immigrant Participation in Public Life European and Greek Experiences’Thursday, 31st May 2007 - Athens, Greece Portugal: New Challenges and Political Opportunity Structures for Immigrants JOÃO SARDINHA Sussex Centre for Migration Research University of Sussex Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SH, United Kingdom E-mail: J.M.S.Sardinha@sussex.ac.uk

2. Presentation Outline: • Politicising immigrationand bring immigrant issues ‘to the table’; • The institutionalisation of dialogue between government and immigrant communities • The setting up inter-organisational lobby groups with the intent of pressuring the State • Municipal institutional settings and initiatives • Concluding remarks

3. 1. Politicising immigration and bring immigrant issues ‘to the table’ • The early 1990’s: • the emergence of immigrant matters as a relevant issue in Portuguese politics. • Factors that would bring about the emergence of immigrant integration as a relevant issue in Portuguese politics: External factors • Fortress Europe – restricting immigration flows, combating illegal migration and the promotion of immigrant integration policies at the EU level. Internal factors • the significant numerical growth of the foreign population; • the increasing number of foreigners without proper legal authorisation; • instability brought about by the social marginalisation (poverty, poor housing conditions, clandestine labour); • growing inter-racial tensions; • the emergence of organisations (namely immigrants’ associations, NGOs and political parties) promoting immigrant rights and lobbying government and civil society.

4. 2. The institutionalisation of dialogue between the government and immigrant communities – the first steps • The introduction of an immigrant community’s representativein parliamentary sessions in 1991. • For the first time immigrant associations take up partnership with the State in matters dealing with immigrant issues: • the creation of the Coordinating Secretariat for Legalisation Action (SCAL) in 1992. • A government body to handle immigrant matters: • the creation of the High Commission for Immigrant and Ethnic Minorities (ACIME) in 1995.

5. Consultative Council for Immigrant Issues (COCAI) Key points: • Eight of the 26 COCAI board members are representatives of immigrant communities – Is this representation? • Before an immigrant association is to have the right to participate in COCAI, it must first be legally recognised by ACIME under the advisement of the COCAI board. • COCAI possesses no power of legislation, only consultation. • The acquisition of funding through ACIME’s immigrant association finance scheme is a processes evaluated by the COCAI board. The political powers can influence or control the intentions of the associations by giving or taking away resources.

6. 3. Setting up inter-organisational lobby groups with the intent of pressuring the State: • The lack of success of the Coordinating Secretariat of Immigrant Associations. • The lack of continuity of the Platform of Immigrant Organisations for Regularisation and Integration. • The latest attempt – the National Forum of Immigrant Representing Structures, the Azores Agenda and the creation of the Platform of Representative Structures of Immigrant Communities in Portugal. • Immigrant association federations (e.g. Federation of Capeverdean Associations in Portugal and the Federation of Angolan Associations and Friends of Angola).

7. 4. Municipal institutional settings and initiatives • The establishment of two types of municipal organisms: • support offices or departments – specifically address matters concerning ethnic and immigrant groups, providing information and support to local immigrant populations and the associations that represent them; • municipal councils – provide a forum where local immigration groups can voice their opinions on issues that most concern them. • The story of three municipal councils: - Lisbon’s Municipal Council of Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Communities and Amadora’s Municipal Council for Ethnic and Immigrant Communities – two past failures. - Porto’s Communities Municipal Council – a current success.

8. 5. Concluding remarks It is important… • that governments (national/local) encourage strong interactive relationships and exchange of ideas with the local associations and immigrant groups for the good of the community at large. • that associations search out other lobbying tactics without permitting government influence or manipulation. • that associations develop other forms of resource and financial acquisition that will permit them to maintain their vindicating positions free of any government influences.