The National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) is a six-years long transnational project which aims to prepare key actors in the integration field in 15 EU Member States to better face the current challenges and improve the integration outcomes of beneficiaries of international protection. Conflict situations tend to last longer, and it takes currently on average 17 years, before refugees fleeing civil wars may eventually have a chance to return to their home country. Hence, the long-term integration of newly arrived beneficiaries of international protection is without alternative and presents an immediate challenge for European societies.

To see conference’s program, click herepdf.

To register for the conference, click here.

In June 2019, the NIEM partnership published a Baseline report on how European countries compare in their refugee integration policies. Some of the key findings were that (1) European countries vary widely in the quality of their integration policies, despite the standards set by EU and international law; (2) Rarely do refugees experience fully favourable conditions to integrate in any area of life; (3) The health and education sectors are making the greatest efforts to help those in need. Much more needs to be done by public housing, employment and training services; (4) Administrative barriers are widespread, especially to help refugees access the housing they need; (5) Most national governments do not work in partnership with civil society and local and regional governments to develop and implement their policies.

In October 2019, an evaluation of progress since the baseline assessment will be published. It is in line with this occasion that Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS invites you to a conference “The 5-year Lessons of Managing Asylum in Europe: How to Implement a Successful Integration Strategy” to look at Latvia’s and Europe’s successes and challenges in developing, implementing, and monitoring the integration of beneficiaries of international protection.

This is a particularly important moment for holding a conference of this kind as some of the most significant strategic planning documents are currently developed such as the National Development Plan 2021-2027 and the Guidelines on National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy. The outlined objectives will serve as reference points for assigning funding opportunities and will set the priorities for the next planning period. It is therefore of utmost importance to reflect on what has been achieved well so far, and even more crucially, to pinpoint the areas of development that appear as most challenging for the coming years. The conference will provide a platform for bringing together specialists and experts from various fields to collectively discuss and debate the overall strategy of integration as well as specifically the issue of housing.