At the recent confrerence on ‘Diverse Talents for the future of Europe‘, Thomas Huddleson from MPG discussed how best to integrate diversity in education policies across Europe. His presentation was recorded and is available to view here.
Examining the links between migrant education and integration in the EU
Thomas Huddleston from the Migration Policy Group presents the migrant education results from the Migrant Integration Policy Index(MIPEX) at an event in the European Parliament, called ‘Diverse talents for the future of Europe -strengthening Europe through civil grassroots initiatives in education’ in March. Continue reading
How to Respond to the EU Family Reunion Consultation
On 7 December 2011 the Migration Policy Group held a webinar ‘How to Respond to the EU Family Reunion Consultation‘ where Thomas Huddleston, MPG Policy Analyst and Central Research Coordinator of the MIPEX, presented the four MPG Briefings on Family Reunion and the relevant MIPEX data to assist organisation in drafting their own responses to the EU Consultation. (N.B. The deadline for responses to the Green Paper is 1 March 2012)
The webinar recording is available in two parts. Part 1 is a recording of the presentation by Thomas Huddleston outlining the questions from the EU consultation one by one, as well as presenting data relevant to the consultation. Continue reading
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Filed under EU, Family Reunion
European Commission asks: Do immigration laws reflect today’s couples?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
Most EU Member States do not let non-EU couples reunite if they do not–or cannot–marry. Can Member States work together to change these rules? Continue reading
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Filed under EU, Family Reunion
European Commission asks: How long should families wait to reunite?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
Most EU countries require immigrants who want to sponsor their family to hold any type of legal residence permit for one year or less. According to the European Commission, long residence requirements and long lists of excluded permits may create implementation problems and delays, which undermine immigrants’ right to family reunion, enshrined in EU law. The OECD suggests that families who can reunite quickly will catch up more quickly in learning the language and adjusting to their new society. Continue reading
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Filed under EU, Family Reunion
European Commission asks: When is an adult not an adult?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
A couple can be legally married at age 18–but a non-EU couple cannot reunite together under several EU countries’ family reunion rules until age 21. Government and academic studies have evaluated the impacts. Age limits have not proven to be proportionate or effective for integration. There are also better ways to prevent forced marriages, according to former victims and women’s shelters.
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European Commission asks: When is a family not a family?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy GroupDoes the EU Family Reunion Directive reflect how you would define a family? MPG’s analysis of MIPEX and Eurostat statistics reveals that immigrant’s parents, grandparents, and adult children are somehow entitled to reunite in most countries, but few can or do apply.
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Filed under EU, Family Reunion
MIPEX fact-check: What countries facilitate autonomous permits for spouses?
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister proposes that reuniting spouses wait two years for an autonomous residence permit; “This is what every other immigrant receiving country — Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the U.S. do, and the only question is why we didn’t do it a while ago?” Is that true?
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Filed under Canada, Family Reunion
Finland studies neighbours’ policies to limit family reunions
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
After national elections almost brought the True Finns to power, the new Interior Minister is looking to reform the country’s family reunion policy by looking to its Nordic neighbours. She claims that Finland’s policy is ‘more relaxed’ and raising the number of asylum-seekers, backlogs, and reception costs. Is ‘relaxed’ the right word for Finland’s policy? What do most countries expect of immigrants who want to sponsor their families? Should Finland follow its neighbours? Are these changes necessary? And how could Finland improve its family reunion procedure?
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Filed under Family Reunion, Finland
The Sledgehammer & the Nut: using age limits to fight forced marriages
Written by Thomas Huddleston, MIPEX Research Coordinator, Co-author and Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group
Amber and Diego Aguilar, with the support of a British NGO, may have overturned the UK’s 21-year-age-limit for the reunification of non-EU citizens with their British or non-EU sponsor. The court found that age limits have a legitimate aim — fighting forced marriages — but disproportionate effects on other genuine couples. The very few other European countries that recently introduced these measures also face questions about how effective they really are against forced marriages.
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Filed under Family Reunion, UK
