Integration of Migrants: Economic, Social, Cultural and Political Dimensions

This paper discusses the integration processes of immigrants and minorities with a recent immigrant background, and the policies related to the process of settlement of these newcomers in European societies. It thus excludes what are often called ‘regional minorities’, such as Frisians in the Netherlands, or Basques in Spain and France. As an initial premise, I would like to suggest that the experience and policies of different countries with integration reflects their experience and policies of immigration. Significant post-war immigration in Europe started early in the North-West European countries (1950s to 1970s), later in Southern Europe (1980s and 1990s) and even more recently in Central and Eastern European countries (1990s). Experience with integration policies follows in the same sequence: we see the longest experience with integration policies in (some countries of) North-Western Europe; limited and more recent efforts in the Southern European countries; and practically an absence of such policies in Eastern and Central Europe as yet. (At the time of the socialist regime, these latter countries were often confronted with the integration of regional minorities: however, at that time the process of integration was dealt with quite differently and many migrations were considered to be ‘internal’).