Research Project S03

Dimensions of integration: Migrant youth in Central European countries

Project Manager for the CEFMR part: Izabela Koryś

International project funded by the European Commission, conducted in Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany aims at identification of crucial factors and measures promoting integration in CEE countries, which recently become also hosts societies for growing number of immigrants. The study is concerned predominantly with the dynamic and patterns of integration of the migrants' youth and children in CEE countries. Austria and Germany provide an ample experience in development of integration policies and measures that could be successfully transferred to the new EU member countries.

Principal tasks performed during the project were as follows:

1. Collating the numbers and socio-economic characteristics of migrant youth;
2. Appraising their cultural, social and identificational integration;
3. Identifying relevant factors for their level of integration;
4. Reflecting best practice per country;
5. Providing experience transfer from the old to the new EU member states;
6. Informing governments, civil society and experts - especially in the accession countries - on the situation of migrant youth and integration approaches, with special focus on structural integration;
7. Inciting transnational co-operation on different levels - EU, government, civil society, schools, employers, migrants associations, etc. - concerned with integration issues.

The results of the Polish part of the project form a part of the book Dimensions of Integration: Migrant Youth in Central European Countries published by IOM Vienna in 2005.