THE CZECH EXPERIENCE

Transcription

1 FARE Family reunification in a European Perspective Kick off Meeting 3 4 December 2013, Arezzo, Italy THE CZECH EXPERIENCE MULTICULTURAL CENTER PRAGUE BY ALEXANDRA DUBOVA

2 Multicultural Center Prague MKC is a non-governmental organization based in Prague. Main areas of focus/activities: Multicultural education Central European website on migration: Migration Online Awareness-raising, campaigns : Consortium of migrants assisting organizations in the CR Expert debates, roundtables, expert analysis, research

3 Czech Republic - migrant background Number of foreign nationals in the Czech Republic: Year Number of foreign nationals Change on a yearly basis Number of foreign nationals Change on a yearly basis Number of foreign nationals Change on a yearly basis All foreign nationals ,8% ,6% ,4% Out of them EU nationals ,2% ,7% ,2% Third country nationals ,2% ,7% ,7% Source: IS CIS

4 Czech Republic - migrant background Composition of migrants as to country of origin (2012): Ukraine 25.7 % Slovakia 19.6 % Vietnam 13.1 % Russia 7.6 % Poland 4.4 %

5 Czech Republic - migrant background Family migration as main purpose of migration influx. Around 40 % of all residence permits are issued for the purpose of family reunification. Explanations: - restrictive policies of labor and entrepreneurship migration - family migration reacts less strongly on economic situation

6 Czech Republic migration policy Migration policy reflects the EU trends and is rather restrictive towards non-eu nationals. In 2011, the government adopted the New System of Economic Migration. Its guiding principles are flexibility and preference of high-skilled workers. In 2013, the Ministry of Interior put forward the new draft Aliens Act which was received very critically by other state institutions and NGOs sector. As of 2014, the new Citizenship Act is coming into force.

7 Czech Republic integration policies government updates its Conception of the Integration of Foreigners each year target group = legally residing third country nationals Integration Centers - newly established to carry out activities supporting social, legal, linguistic and cultural integration in the regions Integration Centres were also supposed to run the adaptation-integration courses for newcomers under the new Aliens Act NGOs play crucial part in integration policy

8 Czech Republic legislative framework Aliens Act No. 326/1999 Coll. entry and stay of foreign nationals (EU and non-eu) Asylum Act No. 325/1999 Coll. position of asylum seekers and refugees Other regulations Labor Code, Social Security Act, Family Code, etc. Citizenship Act new as of 2014 introduces language tests and exams, dual citizenship New Civil Code as of 2014

9 Family reunification regulatory principles Non-EU nationals with non-eu nationals: situation has improved after the transposition of the EU Family Reunification Directive core family only: spouse, children, parents over 65 years sponsor with a long-term residence permit and residing for at least 15 months minimal age for spouses is set on 20 years (above majority age) reunification of refugees separate principles EU nationals with non-eu nationals: broader definition of family (including partners living in the same household) more favorable regulation

10 Family reunification administrative procedures application has to be lodged with the embassy (in principle) income of the sponsor (social contributions not counted) verification of family ties long waiting period: statutory limit for processing the application for family reunification is 270 days (as opposed to other types of residence permits ranging from days) problems with inactivity of the decision-body verification of declared family ties (checks and controls)

11 Family reunification weak points waiting period for reunification (270 days + delays) access of family members to public health insurance and labor market minimum age four spouses (20 years) obtaining independent residence for a family member (only after 3 years) integration measures verification of family ties checks and controls

12 Czech Republic good practice Migration to the Centre Multicultural Center Prague (CZ) Human Rights League (SK) Institute of Public Affairs(PL) Independent Journalism Foundation (HU) Peace Institute (SL) People in Need (CZ)

13

14 Czech Republic good practice Family reunification as one topic of the project Debate on three levels experts, public, migrants Debate in 5 countries Outputs: expert articles, videos from debates, migrant outputs Everything online

15 Czech Republic good practice Impact in participating countries: 10 expert articles on family reunification 30 migrant output on family reunification 5 national debates on family reunification in Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Ljubljana and Bratislava Impact in the Czech Republic: Media coverage articles in newspapers and magazines, radio, TV

16 Czech Republic good practice Evaluation: + inclusion of migrants in the debate + CEE context + sharing of experience and networking - diluted debate - communication in English - limited possibilities of comparison due to national context Perspectives: established network of NGOs and website platform new topics, possible common initiatives

17 Thank you! VISIT: