Integration of Immigrants: A Two Way Process

Abstract

This paper builds on the surveys undertaken under the FEMAGE project in eight countries (the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, and Finland) among natives on attitudes about migration and immigrants, interviews in these countries with immigrant women about their migration experiences, and policy deliberations among European stakeholders about policy options for addressing needs for immigrants in ageing societies and needs for their integration in the new home country.

In this paper we have chosen to first address five critical questions:

• How native and migrant women see each other?


• How is need for migration viewed?


• How is integration perceived?


• What are the perceptions and experiences of discrimination?


• Emancipation and perceptions of one’s own old age, and life satisfaction

Then we identify policy implications of our survey findings. Finally, we discuss policy choices and draw conclusions about needs for tailoring of integration policies based on the reflexive approach and involvement of the key policy stakeholders active in European institutions and multipliers such as international NGOs and media.