Migration in the Czech Republic after 1989 Eva Dohnalová Berkat, InBáze - community centre for migrants

Trends in immigration and integration policy in the Czech Republic Since 1990 in the context of implying into EU Key player – Ministry of Interior, Department for Asylum and Immigration Policy, 1 st period 1990 – 1996 A) Immigration policy In the name of „laissez faire“ Spontanious after-revolution time Imigration control leaking Liberalism of tolerance but not of acceptance Naturalisation very difficult 1990 – Act No. 498 on Refugees B) Emmigration policy Return of emmigrants from the communist regime Relocation programmes for compatriots ◦ 1991 – compatriots from Chernobyl Ukraine

2 nd period 1996 – 1999 Immigration legislation and its aplication toughening up Reasons: ◦ a)internal – unemployment, fear from illegal migration ◦ b) external – harmonosation with EU legislation Alien Act No.326/1999 ◦ Restrictive ◦ Permanent residence permit after 10 years available for everybody Asylum Act No. 325/1999

3 rd period 1999 – 2004 Origins of conceptualising immigration policy Supremacy of law, not the policy ◦ Priority – transposition of EU law 2003 Formulated policy in the field of imigration 3 common goals Fighting ilegal migration Suporting profitable forms of migration Solving humanitarian crisis in countries of origin 2003 Pilote project Active recruitment of highly qualified migrants, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Main benefit – permanet residence after 2,5 years, 1,5 year including family members Limited number of countries included Point model

4 th period 2004 – now CR becomes a member of EU ◦ From transition to destination country 2006 – permanent residence after 5 years CR become a part of Schengen area Green cards programme ◦ ◦ 2 in 1 – work permit and visa in one procedure ◦ 3 categories (HQ – 3 years,less Q – 2 years, without qualifiacation – 2 years without prolonging) ◦ Only 12 countries (not Vietnam, Mongolia) ◦ 2009 only cca 40 cards issued ◦ inconsistent programme – not very effective agenda of permanent residence transferred from Alien Policy to Ministry of Interior Programme of assisted voluntary return – response to crisis a) legal migrants February till December 2009 b) irregulat migrants – September – December 2009

Development since 1989

International Protection

Characteristic of the most important migrant group 1.Ukraine Slovak Republic Vietnam Russian Federation Poland, Germany, Moldavia, Bulgaria, USA, Mongolia, etc (28 February 2010)

Integration policy 1 st period 1990 – 1998 Only arrangements for specific groups: returned compatriots and recognised refugees State administration focused only on material help Role of Council of Europe 2 nd period Key player Ministry of Interior – Commision for integration of foreigners and relations between communities (state bodies, academics, NNO´s) Outcomes inconsistent 1999 Fundaments of the conception of integration – comunitarian discourse Conception of integration – focus on the civic integration of individuals

3 rd period 2004 – 2008 Key player Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Trend: empowering the individual integration Implementation lagging behind conception 2004 Analysis on the position of foreigners living in CR, Gabal 4 th period August 2008 till now Key player again Ministry of Interior 4 main areas of integration policy a) Czech language language exam (A1) for permanent residence b)orientation in the society etc. c)economic independence Economic crisis – many immigrants in irregular or semiregular position d)relations between foreigners and the Czech majority Immigrants communities, NNO ´s

Since 2008 Centres for supporting the integration in all regional centres ex. Prague ◦ Funded from EIF ◦ Controvesional grant policy  Run mostly by allowance organisation of The Ministry of Interior 

Labour migration and crisis Main problems ◦ Restrictive policy – no more issuing work visa, limits on prolonging work permits ◦ Client system, work agencies ◦ Foreign policy, Czech embassies and consulates ◦ Exploitation of migrants ◦ Migrants in trap (no possibility to go home, no work opportunities here) ◦ Illegal and semi-illegal status

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