Vasconcelos
12-12-2010, 03:45 PM
Portugal’s immigrant integration policies ‘exemplary’
Portugal’s immigrant integration politics have been highlighted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in its World Migration Report 2010 as “good examples” that are successful as they “consider the immigrant to be part of a solution.”
Published last week the IOM’s report says that Portugal “has shown how an integrated approach can produce successful politics and services that promote a harmonious, shared future.”
Speaking to Lusa News Agency, High Commissioner Rosário Farmhouse described the report’s findings as “very flattering”, having acknowledged Portugal’s ability to create innovative and coordinated answers for civil society, given that it has welcomed considerable numbers of immigrants in recent years.
The report read “Although Portugal has only recently become a country of immigration the investment made in integration policies in the past few years has had positive outcomes that merit attention.
“Public attitudes towards immigration, as shown by a 2007 Eurobarometer poll, are among the most positive in Europe (Portugal was the second-most positive country in the EU-25), with the majority of those questioned stating that the contribution of immigrants to Portuguese society was positive”, it continued.
High Commissioner Farmhouse commented: “Not all countries can uphold such ample partnerships. Governmentally maybe they can, but on a social and civil level, with the immigrants being part of the solution and actively participating in integration politics, very few countries have that vision.” According to the High Commissioner, Portugal’s capability in creating such synergies is related to the fact that it is traditionally a country of emigrants, who know what it is to start a new life in a far-off land.
The report reiterated this, stating: “The awareness of immigrants’ needs that underlies these policy developments and public opinion reflects Portugal’s emigrant experience. This framework has been very important in terms of public debate and legislative activity on immigration and integration.”
“We have always managed to find answers that we would like our emigrants to find abroad. That has been the tonic that, in the partnership, has made the difference”, Mrs. Farmhouse stressed.
The IOM report makes referral to various national initiatives, such as the national centres for immigrant support (in Lisbon, Oporto and Faro), and the ‘One Stop Shop’ project, which is operated by social-cultural mediators who themselves are migrants.
“The centres have proved to be innovative in terms of providing a holistic and comprehensive government service. The centres have been mainstreaming the provision of immigrant services and consolidating partnerships and cooperation between civil society organisations, public authorities and central government”, the report considered.
Portugal’s Plan for Immigrant Integration, which was launched in 2007 and in three years has reached 80 percent of its objectives.
The report concluded: “As a country that considers its immigrants to be part of the solution, actively involving them in dialogues relating to integration policy, Portugal has demonstrated how an integrated approach can produce successful policies and services that promote a harmonious, shared future.”
Source @ theportugalnews.com (http://www.theportugalnews.com/)
:confused:
Portugal’s immigrant integration politics have been highlighted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in its World Migration Report 2010 as “good examples” that are successful as they “consider the immigrant to be part of a solution.”
Published last week the IOM’s report says that Portugal “has shown how an integrated approach can produce successful politics and services that promote a harmonious, shared future.”
Speaking to Lusa News Agency, High Commissioner Rosário Farmhouse described the report’s findings as “very flattering”, having acknowledged Portugal’s ability to create innovative and coordinated answers for civil society, given that it has welcomed considerable numbers of immigrants in recent years.
The report read “Although Portugal has only recently become a country of immigration the investment made in integration policies in the past few years has had positive outcomes that merit attention.
“Public attitudes towards immigration, as shown by a 2007 Eurobarometer poll, are among the most positive in Europe (Portugal was the second-most positive country in the EU-25), with the majority of those questioned stating that the contribution of immigrants to Portuguese society was positive”, it continued.
High Commissioner Farmhouse commented: “Not all countries can uphold such ample partnerships. Governmentally maybe they can, but on a social and civil level, with the immigrants being part of the solution and actively participating in integration politics, very few countries have that vision.” According to the High Commissioner, Portugal’s capability in creating such synergies is related to the fact that it is traditionally a country of emigrants, who know what it is to start a new life in a far-off land.
The report reiterated this, stating: “The awareness of immigrants’ needs that underlies these policy developments and public opinion reflects Portugal’s emigrant experience. This framework has been very important in terms of public debate and legislative activity on immigration and integration.”
“We have always managed to find answers that we would like our emigrants to find abroad. That has been the tonic that, in the partnership, has made the difference”, Mrs. Farmhouse stressed.
The IOM report makes referral to various national initiatives, such as the national centres for immigrant support (in Lisbon, Oporto and Faro), and the ‘One Stop Shop’ project, which is operated by social-cultural mediators who themselves are migrants.
“The centres have proved to be innovative in terms of providing a holistic and comprehensive government service. The centres have been mainstreaming the provision of immigrant services and consolidating partnerships and cooperation between civil society organisations, public authorities and central government”, the report considered.
Portugal’s Plan for Immigrant Integration, which was launched in 2007 and in three years has reached 80 percent of its objectives.
The report concluded: “As a country that considers its immigrants to be part of the solution, actively involving them in dialogues relating to integration policy, Portugal has demonstrated how an integrated approach can produce successful policies and services that promote a harmonious, shared future.”
Source @ theportugalnews.com (http://www.theportugalnews.com/)
:confused: