ETHNICITY IN POST-INTEGRATION SOCIETIES: UNDERSTANDING THE CRISIS OF NATIONAL MODELS IN EUROPE

Commissioned and co-financed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and conducted by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), this study arose out of the need to rethink the policies for integration of immigrants currently in place across Europe.

Since the 1990s European societies have been confronted with inadequacies in their integration models, particularly as far as Muslim populations are concerned. The migratory movements have changed, as have the countries of destination, making it necessary to question the traditional integration models and come up with new policies.

The project, headed by the researcher Christophe Bertossi (Ifri), includes the research, preparation and publication of a book on the subject and the organisation of a conference in Lisbon for the presentation and discussion of the study’s conclusions (25 and 26 November 2009).

EUROPEAN PROGRAMME FOR INTEGRATION AND MIGRATION (EPIM)

This programme was born out of the interest that several European foundations have shown in strengthening the role of non-governmental organisations working in the area of migration and integration, with a view to highlighting issues regarding migrants and host communities within the European agenda.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a member of the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM), which was launched in 2005. Its support for projects by non-governmental organisations aims to: improve the situation of illegal immigrants; give a voice to migrants in the development of immigration policies; and to promote the role of the media in constructive debate on the integration of migrants into the host societies.

DIVERSITY, MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION INTEREST GROUP (DMIIG)

The European Foundations Centre hosts the Diversity, Migration and Integration Interest Group programme, which provides a platform for debate, the sharing of information and the exchange of good practices in the areas of migration, immigrant integration and diversity.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation takes part in the platform together with other European foundations that are active in these areas.

TRANSATLANTIC FORUM ON INCLUSIVE EARLY YEARS (TFIEY)

This forum is led by the King Baudouin Foundation and brings together more than twelve European and North American foundations to share good practices and recommendations between academics, political decision-makers, civil society members and organisations working in the field, with a view to making early childhood education (from nought to six years of age) a priority in diminishing the repetition of the poverty cycle (among children from migrant and low-income families) as a consequence of their unequal access to education. In order to make fuller use of the knowledge and recommendations resulting from the TFIEY, a Portuguese working party was set up in 2013 to study early childhood education for children from migrant and low-income families. This working party has already programmed a series of activities to be undertaken over the next few years.