Key findings for Bulgaria

Tool to compare, analyse, and improve integration policy

• Do all residents have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities to become full members of society & Bulgarian citizens?

• Benchmark policies and implementation measures, according to European & international standards on Equal Treatment

• Public “Quick Reference Guide”

For debate today

• No official data on implementation, evaluation, and impact• MIPEX clearly captures the policy & starts debate on rest: • Strictly scrutinize policy objectives, progress, and results

• How do the strengths & weaknesses in policies affect migrants?• What data do you have that laws & implementing measures are

being properly implemented?• Do we know what are the results of these laws for migrants?• How are integration policies undermined by general problems

of the rule of law?

Largest and most rigorous study of its kind (148 policy indicators)

7 Policy Areas for immigrants to participate in society:1)Labour market mobility* 2)Family reunion* 3)Education 4)Political participation* 5)Long-term residence* 6)Access to nationality 7)Anti-discrimination

•Covers 27 EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, USA

Background on indicators

148 indicators were developed by MPG & research partners for the seven strands

Each policy indicator reflects law/policy passed by 31 May 2010 (200 questions x 31 countries)• Each is scored by national correspondent(s) based on legal texts• the country is scored on three potential responses per question

Scores are then peer reviewed (2nd independent expert(s) from the country)

Age limits for sponsor and/or

Spouse/partnerAge of majority

1 2 3FAMILY REUNION

Between 18-21

with exceptions21 or over

Background on scores

Score

1) For each indicator: Country X

i.e. ‘age limits’ = 3 (100)

2) For each of 4 dimensions per strand (eligibility, conditions for acquisition, security of status, rights associated)

i.e. 5 indicators on eligibility for family reunion = 75 (sponsors, spouses, minor children, dependent relatives, dependent adult children)

3) For each strand i.e. 27 indicators on family reunion = 43

4) For each countryi.e. 142 indicators = 62

The results for each indicator are weighted and aggregated:

Scores

• Similar rankings/distribution as other comparative codings

• Highly reliable scores: nearly similar latent concept

• Policy coherence and country clustering

Key Findings

Just 50%: Halfway favourable Political will counts, more than tradition

Policies across EU more similar and strong with EU law

BG, EU: 4 strong, 3 weak, but BG scores below average & lack coherence

•AD laws & bodies show greatest potential• EU12 transposed EU law on LMM, FreU, LTR, but retain wide discretionResidence & discrimination law need full implementation with legal & clear rules• Like EU12, weak policies on education, nationality, esp. political participationBG needs to expand its thinking on integration

19th

6th

30th

27th

28th

26th

27th

23rd

Anti-discrimination

Areas of Strength:Basic protections for all against ethnic, racial, and religious discrimination, but weak state policies

Newer countries (BG, HU, RO) create laws & bodies with great potential, but do victims, lawyers, judges use them?

Anti-discrimination

Because of EU law, countries greatly and consistently improve

Leading countries (e.g. UK, SE) make more state duties & make law more coherent & easy to use for victims...

Equal access is standard in only work migration countries (e.g. ES, IT) and leaders on economic integration

2nd Worst access to general support (most e.g. RO grant equal access for all TCNs to education, training &, public employment service)

BG has some of greatest social security restrictions (equal access in half e.g. RO)

Labour marketmobility

Family reunion

Areas of Strength:Basic legal right in all

21 allow dependent adults/parents (e.g. RO)

Discretion weakens security of status in EU12

Basic security/rights for families, including right to autonomous residence, esp. for vulnerable (28)

Long-term residence

Areas of Strength:Basic security/rights for long-term residents

Fees in most other countries are below 150€ (RO ≈90€)

Discretion also weakens security of status: what general & specific impact on immigrants?

Political participation

Areas of weakness:Few migrants can participate politically on issues affecting them, esp. in EU12

Despite renewed interest, major reform needed.

Right to join political parties in 22

Local voting rights are part of best practice strategies (in 19 now, including 5 in EU12)

Formal consultation body (e.g. ES, PT, GR, now EU, also informal in RO)

Access to nationality

Areas of weakness:Besides BG’s clear test, criteria & withdrawal protections, it is missing out on EU reform trends: • Dual nationality (18, e.g. RO)• Some ius soli (15 e.g. GR)• Short residence period (5 years total, not as LTR)

Education

Areas of weakness:Most grant equal access to all, but only address some specific needs & opportunities of migrant children, especially weak in new migration countries• Nordic data-driven mainstreaming• US targeting needs• CA multiculturalism for all• PT incremental, but central

Clear guarantees for undocumented pupils in compulsory (27) & at all levels (half)

Most countries provide greater ongoing technical & financial support

Need to fully support TCN languages (22)

Leaders on intercultural education give central materials & guidelines to adapt curriculum to local diversity (e.g. ES, PT, UK)

Using MIPEX to improve integration policies (Greece, now Romania…Bulgaria?)

Slightly favourable defs., 3 grounds in all areas (15)

Slightly favourable procedures but still long, complex: potential NGO support, class action, many sanctions: Do?

One of strongest equality bodies (Protection against Discrimination Comm.)

Some state action but no info & dialogue duty (13) or contract equality duties (6)

In RO & EU12, same security weakness as family reunion

LTR: 2nd most expensive gamble in EU: ≈505€