Prezentācijas sagatavota projekta „Imigrantu intereses pārstāvošo NVO kapacitātes stiprināšana” ietvaros. Projektu finansē Eiropas Trešo valstu valstspiederīgo integrācijas fonds. Projekta finansēšanas avoti - Fonds 75% un valsts budžeta līdzekļi 25%. Plašāk par projektu: http://www.providus.lv/public/27717.html

1. Consultative bodies for immigrants'
participation:
Lessons from three EU countries
Maria Golubeva, PhD
The conference takes place in the framework of the Project „Capacity building of NGOs
representing third country nationals” that is financed by the European Fund for Third Country
nationals (with 75% of funding coming from the Fund, and 25% from Latvian state budget).

2. Common Basic Principles
of immigrant integration polices in the EU
“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 interaction
between immigrants and Member-State citizens.” (7)
“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.” (9)

3. Opportunities for participation of immigrants:
Latvia and the three assessed countries

4. Handbook of Council of Europe's Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities on consultative bodies:

clearly defined, prioritised, funded and regularly assessed
objectives;

open-ended and differentiated membership, equal representation
from migrants and local communities, wide representativeness of
migrant membership;

election by migrant residents or associations, rather than
nomination by authorities;

consultation and promotion of civic and political participation;

right to initiate consultation and receive a response;

necessary financial and human resources.

5. Features of effective consultative bodies for
immigrants: Council of Europe and Migration
Policy Group

Structural versus ad hoc;

Election versus appointment;

Right of initiative and response;

Representative.

6. Structural:

In Spain, the Forum for the Social Integration of Immigrants came
into existence after the “Plan for Social Integration of Immigrants”
(1994). Royal Decree 3/2006 defines it as a body for consultation,
information and advice on integration affiliated to the Ministry of
Labour and Immigration.

In Finland, Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations ETNO (ETNO) was
transformed from a previous consultative institution, the Advisory
Board for Refugee and Migration Affairs PAKSI, in 1998. Mandate:
“to promote good ethnic relations and equality among members of
all ethnic groups”. Secretariate: Ministry of the Interior.

7. Semi-structural

Ireland: Ministerial Council on Integration was founded in 2010
follwoeing the government report “Migration Nation”;

Advisory body for the Minister, not defined by statutes as a
permanent structure in one of government ministries;

After change of government (2011), meetings suspended for a ling
time.

8. Election and nomination

In Finland, 10 members (out of 33) of ETNO are selected through an
open call to immigrant and minority NGOs that nominate their
candidates. The Government then appoints members of ETNO for a
period of four years. 7 members represent regional ETNO Boards,
the rest are ex-officio representatives of government ministries and
local authorities/ social partners.

In Spain, the Forum consists of a number of representatives of
immigrant and social support organisations nominated by their
organisations and appointed by the Ministry of Labour, plus a
number of representatives of different levels of government and
local authorities and social partners.

In Ireland, the Minister selected individuals based on an open call.

9. Right of initiative and response

In Spain, government requests the Forum’s opinion or reports on
any policy drafts that concern issues of social integration. The
Forum has also the right to prepare reports, programs and plans on
own initiative for government’s consideration;

Finland: ETNO participates in developing immigration and
integration policies, facilitates exchange of information between
immigrants and government, public authorities usually repsond,
even though not contsrained by law;

Ireland: “to give advice to the Minister directly on issues faced by
migrants”, no clear right of initiative and response.

10. Criteria for selection of nominated
representatives of immigrant associations

Finland: 1) sound legal and administrative management and
adherence to democratic principles, 2) vulnerability of
represented community to discrimination or racism.

The shortlist of pre-selected organisations goes through
approval process at a number of ministerial levels, before the
10 associations are finally confirmed by the Minister of the
Interior.

Spain: to adequately represent the diversity of the immigrant
population in the country, i.e. 1) securing the presence of the
major communities from key countries and regions of origin;
2) to be represented in several regions of the country.

Ireland: criteria for individuals included gender balance,
countries of origin, regional representation.

11. Recommendations for setting up a
consultative body in Latvia

It has to be set up by a government decision ('rīkojums'
or 'noteikumi') and not by a minister, and it has to have a
permanent secretariat in a government institution.

In order to be both a consultative body for immigrants
and a dialogue platform, it has to have among its
membership representatives of immigrant organisations,
ex-officio representatives of the Ministries of the Interior,
Culture, Education, representatives of local authorities,
representatives of NGOs working with social integration
of immigrants and possibly other social partners.

12. Recommendations for setting up a
consultative body in Latvia

Representatives of immigrant organisations have to
make up at least half of the members of the
consultative body. Associations to be represented on
the consultative council have to be selected through
an open call to associations, which should nominate or
elect their representatives (representatives of
immigrant organisations should not be chosen as
individuals by the responsible minister).

Criteria for selection of immigrant organisations to be
represented on the consultative body should include
the following: representing both 'old' and 'new' groups
of immigrants, organisations with democtratic
governance structure and transparent funding.

13. Recommendations for setting up a
consultative body in Latvia

The consultative body secretariate should be either at the
Citizenship and Migration Affairs Administration (PMLP), which
exercises essential functions regarding immigration and
naturalisation, or at the State Chancellery, which coordinates
the policy process in the government and thus deals with
interministerial issues.

The consultative body should be involved in developing all
policies affecting immigrants, especially immigration and
integration policy. It should also offer capacity building
support to immigrant organisations and serve as a hub of
expertise on integration. It should act as a convener of wider
public discussions about immigration and integration .

14. Thank you for attention!
Maria Golubeva
mariagol@latnet.lv