The EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship discussed issues of integration

The EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) held in Brussels on 26 January was attended by Mr. Egbert Holthuis, DG EMPL, Unit for the European employment strategy, corporate social responsibility and local development, and Mr. Tamás Ferenzi, Director of the Hungarian Economic Council, who presented in line with the EESC strategy “going local” the Annual report of the Hungarian Economic Council.

The SOC Section discussed and a adopted the following opinion:

SOC/362 Integration and Social Agenda

As an institution that is strongly committed to promoting and developing the Social Policy Agenda and fostering the integration of migrants and ethnic minorities, the EESC has decided to draw up this own-initiative opinion so that the EU may strengthen the links between its integration policies and the Social Policy Agenda.
The year 2010 will be a very important year for social policy in the EU: it will be the European Year of Combating Exclusion and Poverty, the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy will be drawn up, and a new Social Agenda will be adopted.
The EESC believes that the 2010 review of the Social Agenda should take greater account of the social effects of immigration.
As immigration/integration and the social agenda fall within the remit of different Commissioners and different Directorates-General, the EESC proposes that political and administrative cooperation within the European Commission be improved.
Integration policies must be linked to the main objectives of EU social policy; thus, all people – including third-country nationals, EU citizens from immigrant backgrounds and minorities – will be able to benefit from them. Moreover, the fight against social exclusion should be geared towards all people, including immigrants, whether they be EU citizens or third-country nationals.
The EESC considers it a priority to strengthen integration at European level, taking account of the economic crisis, the situation of immigrants and minorities in terms of employment, social inclusion, gender equality, poverty, education and training, healthcare, social protection and the fight against discrimination.
The approach of diversity through immigration should be included across the board when specific policies and measures are drawn up and implemented, in tandem with the development of specific policies and initiatives for the integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities.
Consequently, taking into account the experience gained from other policies, the Committee proposes that a process of mainstreaming integration be provided for in the EU's different political, legislative and financial instruments, in order to promote integration, equal treatment and non-discrimination. 

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs
Member of the EESC