Elvira Méndez Pinedo

1.4.2007 | 22:58

"ICH BIN EIN BERLINER". Immigration and Integration: some challenges for Europe and Iceland

When the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, visited West Berlin in June 1963, he pronounced this famous sentence “Ich bin ein Berliner” during a speech that is considered one of Kennedy´s best. He said:

“All free men, wherever they live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner!”.

How could he consider himself a “Berlin citizen” if he was American? Well, that is precisely the point. He was underlying his political support for Berliners shortly after the Soviet-Communist state of East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. The Wall was built as a barrier to prevent movement between East and West Germany. Kennedy implicitely declared that the Wall that deprived half Berliners of the freedom to leave the country and the other half to visit their family and friends was a shame for all free men. Along came the following message: when confronted to any violation of human rights, deprivation of freedom and democracy, when deprived of the right to leave our country or to enter another country…. we are all victims, we are all affected, we are all “Berliners”.

According to Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, citizens may not be forbidden to leave their country. But it is also interesting that there is no similar provision regarding entry of non-citizens. The same can be said of the European Convention of Human Rights. Freedom to leave is not coupled with the right to be admitted. We are all “Berliners” once we leave our native countries as no other country is obliged to accept us.

It is not surprising that in this context, immigration has therefore a major political issue everywhere in the world. The European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) are probably the only areas of the world that allow free migration between Member States (under some common rules).

Through the EEA Agreement, Iceland is obliged to accept the free movement of persons who are nationals of the EEA (EU-25+3 countries) (Romania and Bulgaria now in the EU but still not in the EEA). Obviously Icelanders are also free to move and settle in any other EEA country. Non-discrimination and same-treatment-to-nationals rules apply inmediately within this area.

As for the other nationals, those who do not belong to the EU-EEA, Iceland can decide its own policy of admission and rights. It can allow this immigration for macroeconomic reasons such as the suply or labour. It can also decide to allow temporary migrant workers to come and work for a limited amount of time.

Together with a clear immigration policy an integration policy must also exist. Economic rights must be accompanied by social rights so that newcomers can function in their new country. It goes without saying that, in the case immigration might cause some specific tensions in the employment market and/or within the society, these issues need to be properly and quickly assessed and resolved.

Sad truth is that, faced to the new complex issues and challenges, European countries have not been able so far to adopt clear policies on immigration and integration issues. While the European Union has repeatedly acknowledged the need for migration to Europe, there has been little agreement on how to achieve this both at national and at European level.

It is clear that Europe is reaching a turning point in terms of addressing immigration and integration issues. Just as migration flows are becoming increasingly complex, so too the question of how to integrate those populations who are already in Europe seem to have no simple answers.

Unfortunately, we cannot ignore anymore the challenges that our societies are going through. Life goes on, whether there is a policy or not. Despite all complexities and difficulties we still must define a clear integration policy for those who come.

Integration “per se” falls under national and regional discretion, and the role for the European Union (EU) in to settle standards. The basic rationale for integrating migrants is that everyone is entitled to the same fundamental human rights and freedoms regardless of their nationality, ethnic association or race, as set out in the European Convention of Human Rights. The equal rights of all members of a community are reflected in policies that promote equal opportunities and combat discrimination.

The most substantial achievement in the EU has been the adoption, in November 2004, of 11 Common Basic Principles (CBPs) to offer “a coherent framework on integration of third-country nationals”. These principles outline the priorities which any integration policy should address, including the most important ones: access to employment, basic knowledge of the official language of the country and participation in the democratic process. The principles are also the basis for a common European agenda on integration. Member States can use the principles as a ‘check list’ to improve their integration programmes.

Integration not being covered by the EEA Agreement it is obvious that Iceland is not bound by these soft European rules. However, Iceland is part of the European Convention of Human Rights and should follow what the rest of European countries are doing. The 3rd Report issued by the Council of Europe (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance) on Iceland in 2006 encourages the Icelandic authorities in their efforts, taking into account other European experiences and recommends that they devote all the necessary resources to the new Immigration Council.

In fact, an integration policy is more necessary than ever. We have the obligation to ensure that all new comers, Europeans or not Europeans, can function effectively in their new country. This is a very important issue as we are playing with fire. The debate must be open and public. The solutions provided. Ignoring a substantial foreign population pretending that problems do not exist or hoping that social exclusion will encourage them to return home is not only irresponsible but will cause tensions, racism and xenophobia in our society. Nobody is born “immigrant”, you become “Berliner” when you move.

For more information you can read the following documents

Council of Europe. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Third Report on Iceland. June 2006

http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_approach/Iceland/Iceland_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage

European Union

European Commission

Communication of the Commission on immigration, integration and employment (2003)

http://www.ec.europa.eu/employment_social/employment_analysis/docs/comm_336_en.pdf

First Annual Report on Migration and Integration (2004)

http://www.ec.europa.eu/employment_social/employment_analysis/docs/com_508_en.pdf

A Common Agenda for Integration (2005)

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0389en01.pdf