21 Amendments of Nils TORVALDS related to 2012/2131(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital -1 a (new)
Recital -1 a (new)
-1a. In 2011, 48.9 million people resident in the 27 Member States had been born abroad (9.7% of the total EU population), 16.5 million coming from another EU Member State (3.3%) and 32.4 million from a third country (6.4%);
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Mutual commitment to integration can only obtain the widest possible support within society if it can be successfully mainstreamed and if Member States discuss the issue actively and openly with the public and offer credible ways of meeting the challenges currently presented by it.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. When discussing new immigration, it is not sufficientn addition to referring to a shortage of labour in the EU and an ageing European population. I, it is also necessary to ascertain the maximum absorption capacity of the EU Member States for new immigration. In many Member States, particularly in Western Europe, that capacity has already long since been exceeded. Moreover, the first priority should be to seek to find employment for the foreigners already present, rather than allowing new immigrants to swell their rankscrucial to improve the labour market participation for the working population at large, including immigrants already present.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) 1. The impacts of demographic changes in Europe will increase over the coming decades, with an ageing population, longer life expectancies, and a declining work age population. With the need for increasing migration, inclusive and effective integration policies are essential.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the commitments made with regards to the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; underlines, in this context, the potential benefits of improved integration of migrants into the labour markets in a number of areas;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The Commission proposal to introduce an Immigration Code giving legal immigrants a uniform legal status is to be welcomed.
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. EU instruments to date for the formulation of integration policies, for example the network of National Contact Points on Integration, the European integration website, the European Handbook on Integration, the European Integration Fund, the Asylum and Migration Fund, the EU immigration portal and the European integration modules, are to be welcomed;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Integration is launched most effectively in local communities and therefore requires EU support for the creation of an integration network of local and regional authorities involving all civil society bodies operating at grassroots level in accordance with the ‘bottom-up’ principle and possibly following the examples set by the CLIP, ERLAIM, ROUTES, City2City und EUROCITIES projects; stresses that towns and cities have a major role to play in this respect and deserve particular support;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. It is counterfactual to present new immigration as something which onlyNew immigration confers both benefits. Recent research in the Netherlands1 estimates the cost of immigration to be at least €7 billion per annum. The arrival of unskilled new immigrants, in particular, imposes a heavy burden on social security systems. Meanwhile, such schemes as family reunification and immigration for purposes of study are clearly abused to provide an extra channel for immigration. __________________ 1 Nyfer, Budgettaire effecten van de immigratie van niet-westerse allochtonen [Budgetary impact of immigration by non- Western aliens], May 2010 and costs. Accordingly, measures that not only strike the right balance but also prevent abuse of immigration schemes are needed.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. It cannot be the intention that people from outside the EU should have the opportunity to use study here as a means of immigration, or thatThere are, amongst other things, significant societal and economic benefits in enabling the integration of migrants into the labour markets, both for host and home countries. Labour immigration should however not lead to the EU should depriveing third countries of their educated people. The EU should ensure that people who study here subsequently place; the mutual benefits should be promoted instead so theat knowledge they have gained at thelso can service of the development of theirthe country of origin.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. It is necessary to distinguish clearly between legal and illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants voluntarily opt to ignore the law, and should therefore be identified and deported. Any attempt to argue in favour of supporting and regularising illegal migrants undermines democratic acceptance of the presence of migrants in the EUWell-functioning immigration procedures that discourage taking recourse to illegal routes of migration are therefore needed.
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Observes, with reference to Directives 2008/115/EC and 2009/52/EC, that illegal labour migration can be reduced not only by means of effective monitoring but also by making opportunities for legal immigration available more effectively;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Emphasises that, in order to ensure successful integration of migrants, the implementation of anti-discrimination laws must be ensured and any breaches must be sanctioned. In this context, it is of particular importance that no discrimination is tolerated on the basis of origin or religion.
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that integration is a continuous two way process requiring the involvement of both third country nationals and the host society. Welcomes the many good practice examples, across the EU, of the integration of migrants, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, often through projects carried out by local authorities, who play a key role in delivering on integration objectives.
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Recalls the EU's Common basic Principles on Immigrants Integration (CBPs). Regrets that Member States are not currently using the European Integration Fund to its full potential, and recalls that the aim of the fund is to support Member State's actions to implement the CBPs.
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Recalls the importance of voting rights, particularly at the local level for migrants as an important tool for integration and active citizenship; is concerned by the political under representation of minorities at all levels of government, including at Member State level and in the European Parliament.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Deplores the desperate situation of undocumented migrants and failed asylum seekers in the EU, many of whom are destitute, and calls for solutions to be found, in full respect of the fundamental rights of those concerned. Notes that undocumented migrants have very few prospects for integration and that opening up channels for regularisation would improve integration prospects.
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Recalls that around half of the EU's migrants are women. An independent migration status for women and the right to work for spouses are crucial elements to ensure effective integration.
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Regrets recent changes to the 'right to nationality at birth' legislation in some Member States which is increasing cases of statelessness in the EU.
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Recalls the important role of the mass media in shaping public opinion on immigration and integration, and calls for responsible journalism to foster mutual respect and understanding of each others similarities and differences.
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4 h. Welcomes the establishment of the European Integration Forum which provides a platform for civil society to discuss challenges and priorities on migrant integration issues. Would welcome stronger links between the forum and the ongoing political and legislative process at the EU level.