A COMMON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY – IN SWEDEN?

1. A COMMON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY – IN SWEDEN? • LOOKING BACK • SWEDEN TRANSFORMED • A COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK? • CEAS: A SWEDISH U-TURN! • INTEGRATION POLICY: A SWEDISH J -TURN? • TESTING • THE STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME

2. LOOKING BACK • 1992 • Theme: Carl Bertelsmann Prize: Progressive immigration and integration policy • Winner: Kingdom of Sweden • The Swedish government started reacting to clashes with other cultures in the mid-1970swith realistic legislation supported by all parties, which made it possible to consistentlyintegrate foreign-born citizens. Key elements of the country's integration policy include equalaccess for foreigners to the Swedish social welfare system and full integration intocommunities.

3. SWEDEN TRANSFORMEDFOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN SWEDEN 1900-2001

4. SWEDEN TRANSFORMEDEMPLOYMENT RATE TOTAL POPULATION AND FOREIGN CITIZENS

5. SWEDEN TRANSFORMEDPopulation forecast. Age group 20-34 yearsMalmö and Sweden. Index year 2000=100

6. ...AND TALKING ABOUT INTEGRATION ”If we gathered up all statements made in Sweden about labour market integrationover the last ten years, the amount and width in content would be enormous.If the relevant backdrop of the broader integration debate was to beincluded, the volume would be even bigger.”

8. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY • TAMPERE 1999 • THE HAGUE 2004 • 11 CBPs • POTSDAM 2007 • COM PRINCIPLES ON MIGRATION • THE FRENCH PACT • VICHY 2008 • STOCKHOLM 2009

9. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY COMMON BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATION 1. Integration is a dynamic, two-way process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents of Member States. 2. Integration implies respect for the basic values of the European Union. 4. Basic knowledge of the host society’s language, history, and institutions is indispensable to integration.

10. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION POLICY • 7. Frequent interaction between immigrants and Member State citizens is a fundamental mechanism for integration. Shared forums, inter-cultural dialogue, education about immigrants and immigrant cultures, and stimulating living conditions in urban environments enhance the interactions between immigrants and Member State citizens. • 8. The practice of diverse cultures and religions is guaranteed under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and must be safeguarded, unless practices conflict with other inviolable European rights or with national law. • 9. The participation of immigrants in the democratic process and in the formulation of integration policies and measures, especially at the local level, supports their integration.

11. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION FUND • PRIOS SWEDEN: • Intercultural and inter-religious dialogue • Orientation and civic education – basic values • Family – upbringing – socialisation – alternative arenas/networks • Informal integration and care systems – incentive structures • Crime, class, culture and ethnicity

12. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION FUND • The financial scope of the Fund in Sweden is limited and should therefore be restricted to projects within a number of defined and thus far unaddressed or little observed problems and development areas • Swedish integration policy has been the subject of a relatively large number of investigations, research studies and reviews during the past decade. Past integration policy has not achieved the objectives established by Parliament. • Swedish integration policy has only marginally been influenced by the development and debate taking place in this area in the rest of Europe. • During the past decade, the knowledge base and explanatory model that are part of Sweden’s integration policy – supported by investigations and research – has only marginally taken into account cultural and religious factors as an underlying cause of potential conflicts.

13. TESTING AND NEW DEMANDS • FRANCE – CONTRACT D´ACCUEIL ET D´INTÉGRATION • THE NETHERLANDS – TEST BEFORE ENTRANCE • GERMANY – LEITKULTUR, NEW LAW, TEST • THE UK – „BRITISHNESS”

14. THE NETHERLANDS • HOW WOULD YOU REACT IF YOUR SON WAS HOMOSEXUAL AND WANTED TO LIVE TOGETHER WITH AN OTHER MAN? • WOULD YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO ATTEND SWIMMING LESSONS? • DO YOUT THINK THAT WOMEN SHALL OBEY THEIR HUSBANDS AND THAT IS ALLOWED FOR THE HUSBANDS TO USE VIOLENCE IF THEY DON´T OBEY?

15. EUROPEAN YEAR FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE • ”CULTURE” AS ARTS • ”CULTURE” AS AN EXPRESSION FOR VALUES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, LANGUAGE, NORMS • EDUCATION AND UPBRINGING • LIFESTYLE AND MANNERS • EY 2008: ”A BETTER COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITIZENS, CULTURES AND RELIGIONS IN EUROPE”

20. INTRODUCTION SWEDEN • NEW INTRODUCTION PROGRAM FOR NEWLY ARRIVED (REFUGEES) • CHANGE OF RESPONSABILITES AND ROLES • COORDINATION ”PILOTS” – PRIVATE COMPANIES • COMPETITION AND INCENTIVES – CARROTS AND STICKS • MORE FUNDING…? • MANDATORY CIVICS ORIENTATION COURSES

21. GOOD AND BAD DIVERSITY • “Sweden is, and shall be, a country of diversity. Diversity enriches and develops all of us living in Sweden. But we can not se all diversity as positive, it has to be very clear that all diversity is not for good. • It is reasonable, that if you move to another country, you should also be prepared to get to know how the new country functions and which are the values that characterizes the society.” Minister for integration and equal opportunities Ms Nyamko Sabuni

22. ACCEPT AND BE ACCEPTED • We have to dare to speak out about which values and rules we want to characterise an internationalised Sweden. • Accept and be accepted is a more reasonable principle for newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers than empty promises of being supported by those already living here. • This way we will give to the children whose parents migrated to Sweden in the hope of a better life.(Billström, Kristersson & Svantesson, Dagens Nyheter, August 26, 2008) 

23. A STRENGTHENED SHARED SET OF VALUES IN SWEDEN • Gov´s project: • ”…STRENGHTEN THE SOCIAL COHESION AND THE RESPECT BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND THE RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS” Basic premise: Human rights and those universal values which are associated with these rights.Work and self-sufficiency are fundamental to people's security and thereby sense of belonging to a larger context and being a valuable part thereof.Economic growth and labour market policies are important tools in combating exclusion.Taking a clear stand against attitudes and behaviour which are not compatible with our common set of values - democracy and fundamental human rights.

24. SWEDEN TRANSFORMED • SWEDEN – SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ”DRIVING LICENCE”, BASIC VALUES, WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE IN THE SWEDISH SOCIETY • MANDATORY SOCIAL/CIVICS ORIENTATION COURSES • TESTS IN LANGUAGE AND CIVICS FOR CITIZENSHIP • NATIONALISTIC AND XENOPHOBIC POLITICAL PARTY

25. STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME • A joint coordination mechanism that would support the efforts of Member States using a common reference framework could be developed… • through the development of a joint coordination mechanism using a common reference framework, which should improve structures and tools for European knowledge exchange, • The crucial role played by the schools…especially those offering educational models that espouse European values should be highlighted… • …elements such as introductory courses and language classes, a strong commitment by the host community and the active participation of immigrants in all aspects of collective life

26. STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME • breaking down the boundaries with other policies such as education, training, culture, employment, youth and multilingualism • to improve coordination with other relevant policies, such as employment, education and social inclusion • ------ • Access to employment is central to successful integration • development of common indicators for evaluating integration policies • towards the development of core indicators in a limited number of relevant policy areas (e.g. employment, education and social inclusion) for monitoring the results of integration policies, in order to increase the comparability of national experiences and reinforce the European learning process

27. STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME • SWEDEN: • INDICATORS, MAINSTREAMING, CO-ORDINATION WITH OTHER POLICY AREAS, EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR MARKET ISSUES/POLICY, • ACTION PLAN 2010 (ES)

28. J-TURN? • SWEDEN… • …speaks with a forked tongue? • SP: EMPLOYMENT, INDICATORS, MAINSTREAMING • NP: VALUES, TESTS & CIVIC EDUCATION, CITIZENSHIP • SPECIFIC MEASURES FOR MIGRANTS • RELIGION, CULTURE • ASSIMILATION POLICY?