EMN CLUSTER MEETING Paris 2012. November 20th MATERIAL RECEPTION CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE EU: EXISTING MECHANISMS AND GOOD PRACTICES General Directorate for Migrations General Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration Ministry of Employment and Social Security SPAIN Elena Alonso Ventura 1
SESSION 1: ORGANISATION, QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE RECEPTION SYSTEM. CONTENTS: 1. Introduction about refugees reception 1.1. Legal framework. 1.2. Reception System. 1.3 Authorities. 2. Integration during the procedure 3. Integration programmes 4. Priorities 5. Difficulties 2
1. Introduction about reception 3
1.1. Legal Framework Foreigners in Spain Two different legal frameworks, one for Foreign/Immigrants and another one for Asylum Seekers and Refugees/ Subsidiary protection Foreign Migrants Asylum seekers / refugees / subsidiary protection ORGANIC LAW 4/2000, Rights, freedom and social integration of immigrants. ROYAL DECREE 557/2011, applying regulation of LAW 4/2000 LAW 12/2009, Right of asylum and Subsidiary Protection Law ROYAL DECREE 203/1995, applying regulation of previous Law 5/1984. MINISTERIAL REGULATION 13/01/1989 establishing Refugee Reception Centres (CAR) 4
Asylum seekers Number of asylum seekers 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 7664 3000 4517 2000 3007 2744 3422 1000 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Asylum seekers 5 5
1.2. Reception system Standard conditions to address specific needs: Medical screening & Health care. Translation and interpretation Free legal assistance. Accommodation. Monthly cash allowance. Social advice. Psychological and psychiatric support. 6
1.2. Reception system Education & Training: Children under 3: Kindergarten grants. Minors under 16: access to national education system. Adults: Access to training courses (public & private courses). Employment advice. Information about opportunities of employment (job offers) Participation in cultural and leisure activities. 7
1.2. Reception facilities STATE Nº RECEPTION CENTERS NGO s Nº R.R.C. Vallecas - Madrid 96 RECEPTION FACILITIES ACCEM CEAR 127 168 R.R.C. Alcobendas R.R.C. Mislata Valencia R.R.C. Sevilla 80 120 120 RED CROSS 198 T.R.C. Ceuta 512 TOTAL: 493 T.R.C. Melilla 480 TOTAL: 1408 8
1.3. Authorities Ministry of Employment and Social Security General Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration General Directorate for Migrations Deputy General Directorate Direct management from State For Integration of Inmigrants Management through NGO MIGRATIONS CENTRES Refugee Reception Centres (CAR): 4 MigrantsTemporary Staying Centres (CETI): 2 Spanish Red Cross. Spanish Refugee Council (CEAR). Catholic Spanish Commision (ACCEM) 9
2.Integration during the stay in a reception centre 10
2.Integration programmes (R.C). Basic training: Spanish language classes. New technologies lessons and internet access. Sessions on social and cultural context. Workshops on self-esteem, motivation and social skills. Pre-labour training Skills for finding a job. Housing information. Labour legislation and Spanish labour market. 11
2.Integration programmes (R.C). Individual Integration Itinerary on a case by case basis 1. Interview/s with an integration technician for individual orientation. 2. Validation of qualifications counselling. 3. Access to vocational training programmes. 4. Travel card and studying expenses. 5. Subsistence income support (if out of reception center). 6. Employment counselling. 7. Mediation service dealing with job offers. 12
3.Integration programmes post reception center 13
3.Social integration programmes Who? Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidary protection. When? What? How? Why? When status is granted and they move out of the reception system. A whole range of services for social integration. Through a mixed management system with NGO s There is no effective international protection without integration. 14
3. Social integration programmes 1. Special medical/health provisions for vulnerable people: Glasses Prothesys Orthopedycs Dental care. 2. Specific psychological counselling and long term follow-up. Individual counselling Emotional support Family mediation. 3. Social assistance service: Information on social issues. Referral to specific resources. 15
3. Social integration programmes 4. Financial support for basic needs: Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and reunificated family members with no income. For a maximum of 12 months. Monthly income Costume costs 16
3. Social integration programmes 5. Short term housing and accomodation. Allowances for paying a flat or room rent. 3 months maximum. 17
3. Social integration programmes 6. Educational support: Kindergarten for children under 3. University fees. Spanish lessons, if necessary. Travel card for attending classes. Books, dictionaries and additional studying material. School meal grants. Training expenses: tuition and monthly installments Participation in cultural and leisure activities. 18
3. Social integration programmes 7. Access to the labour market and income generating activities: While adult looking for a job: Travel card and kindergarten for children under 3. When moving to a new city because of a new job: travel expenses. Micro-enterprise or self-employment project 19
3. Social integration programmes 8. Assisted Voluntary Return programme. Training for returning. Travel documentation and tickets financial provision. Other travel expenses, i.e.:» Accomodation for travel transit.» Supplies of medication.» Travel assistance expenses, if needed. cash for spending during the travel. Reinstallation maximum financial aid Reintegration labour/income generating project: financial support. 20
3. Social integration programmes 9. Family Reunification: Legal Assistance during the procedure. Tickets & Travel expenses. Financial aid for installation. Case Follow up. 21
3. Social integration programmes 10. Other integration programmes: Translation and interpretation. Legal assistance regarding administrative issues. Intercultural mediation Integration networks: i.e. Ariadna Network. Special agreements with local authorities. Promotion of associationism. 22
4. PRIORITIES Adapting the existing system to the system applicable to resettled refugees. Work for asylum seekers to achieve a high degree of autonomy as early as possible. 23
5. DIFFICULTIES To coordinate all administrative levels of participants, specially municipalities (eg: medical assistance, education) Raising public awareness on the status and profile of refugees Economical situation of Spain. Dificulties to obtain the autonomy 24
SESSION 2: FLEXIBILITY OF THE RECEPTION SYSTEM. CONTENTS: Regulation on temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons approved by Royal Decree 1325/2003. Mixed management system with NGO s that allows flexibility in case of a massive influx of asylum seekers The possibility of reducing the length of stay in a Reception Centre. Last experience: 1999. Influx of Kosovar. The current economic situation in Spain could not respond to a massive influx. 25