Greece
Citizen participation is extremely important for creating the “sense of belonging” of female immigrants and refugees in a society as well as creating conditions for mutual acquaintance, partnership and acceptance. Participation in the Integration Councils for Immigrants and Refugees, a consultative body In Greek municipalities, favors citizen participation and with relevant actions, prepares the ground for the acquisition of the status of Greek citizen that offers the possibility of political participation at local, national and European level (right to vote and to be elected).Community Centers of municipalities and Migrant Integration Centers cater to the individual needs of third-country nationals by offering «One Stop-Shop» services in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Services of each local administration. M.I.C. as well as Community Centers in each municipality connect third-country nationals with all social service programs offered in each municipality area. More specifically, M.I.C. and Community Centers offer information and guidance on programs such as the following: a) Information and support to apply for the Social Solidarity Income and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), b) Information and support to apply for social services, educational seminars, as well as other professional training courses and educational seminars.
The 2019 National Integration Strategyincluded actions as (6.1.2) activation of the Immigration and Refugee Integration Councils of the Municipalities as well as strengthening of their role and expansion of their responsibilities, through legislative regulation and (6.2) to encourage the participation of immigrants, applicants and beneficiaries of international protection in the public through sports and volunteering.The 2021 National Integration Strategy underlines the need for the pre-integration of asylum applicants. Goal 4: Promoting the European Lifestyle includes: Objective 1: Familiarity with democratic institutions and the concept of the Rule of Law. Objective 2: Raise awareness of the principle of non-discrimination, respect for diversity and cohesive societies (Actions for promoting knowledge and respect for human rights within the community on the basis of national law, human rights law and the principles of human dignity, equality and peaceful coexistence and raising awareness on issues of secularism and respect for all religions as well as the public space, by organizing workshops and seminars). Objective 3: Promote the development of skills related to everyday life. The 2021 National Integration Strategy underlines the need for the social integration of beneficiaries of international protection. Goal 3: Development of coherent communities includes: Objective 1: Promote the social inclusion and participation of women and young people in the community (Initiatives to strengthen the connection between women through local associations. Forming associations within the community with meetings on a monthly basis and focusing on various topics. The meetings will aim to strengthen the connection between women in single-parent families and to help their social integration and actions to include newcomer refugees and migrants in associations and groups of youths). Objective 2: Raise public awareness on issues related to the rule of law, human rights, social cohesion and inclusion. Goal 3: Promote the European way of life. Objective 4: Develop employment opportunities for refugees at the local level. Objective 5: Ensure a harmonized geographical distribution of beneficiaries of international protection.
References
Department of Public Health Policy/University of West Attica, University of Gent, PRAKSIS, European Public Law Organization, SynEirmos (2018). Report on Good Practices (Deliverable 1.1 LION-Project). Synthesis Report. Report part of project Local Alliance for Integration "776213/LION" (AMIF-2016-AG-INTE). Athens: Department of Public Health Policy/University of West Attica, University of Gent, PRAKSIS, European Public Law Organization, SynEirmos.
http://allianceforintegration.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/D1.1-Report-on-best-practices.pdf
This report attempts to present the policy and good practices on the EU-level and the level of EU-member states with particular attention to the case of Greece, regarding the social integration of TCNs through employment, education, health care, social care and intercultural coexistence.
Fouskas, T., Martiniello, M., Koulierakis, G., Economou, C., de Maio, A. and Mine, F. (2020). Annual Report 2019 on Migration and Asylum in Greece: National Report: Part 2 and Statistics Annex. Athens: European Public Law Organization (EPLO)/Hellenic Ministry for Migration and Asylum/European Commission/European Migration Network.
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/document/download/69914d51-b606-447b-95f3-2e4af9f982a2_en
The Annual Policy Report of 2019 aims at informing the Member-States and the European Commission on all the developments that took place in the year of 2019, in the areas of migration and asylum in Greece.
Fouskas, T. (2013). “Representing the Unrepresented? Operation and Representativeness of Migrant Integration Councils in Greece”, Social Cohesion and Development, 8(2):127-150.
http://www.epeksa.gr/assets/variousFiles/file_3.Fouskas.pdf
This article examines the participation andrepresentation of immigrants in local publiclife in Greece.
Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2021). Greek Policy for Social Integration. Athens: Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
https://migration.gov.gr/en/migration-policy/integration/politiki-entaxis-se-ethniko-epipedo/
The link offers information regarding action pillars and policy measures of the National Strategy.