European Conference Maastricht Vocational training for asylum seekers: effects & methods Education to asylum seekers in the region: results of a conference disseminated 4 countries, 5 projects
Agenda of the meeting 1.Introduction in vocational training for asylum seekers: 4 countries, 5 projects & a conference with 250 high officials 1.Conclusions of the conference & next steps 2.What can the EP and the EC do? 3.Defining responsibilities, dividing responsibilities
Conclusions concerning self-reliance Economic independence is a pre-condition for all people in the pursuit of happiness Europe supports through ESF-EQUAL the development of instruments that can lead to self-reliance and 5 networks have worked successfully therein in the recent 3 years These networks found that the development of instruments needs to be supported by all the main stakeholders in the region – where ever this is That the reintegration for the majority of the asylum seekers is a fact and that Europe through ESF-EQUAL needs to be used to develop voluntary return programmes aimed at economic self-reliance Return?
Political conclusions The existence of refugees is a fact now and in the future, as long as wars and economic differences between nations remain The individual asylum seeker has to be supported in his preparation for self-reliance where ever his future lies The EU-countries should work on collective development of programmes and legislation There is a need for objective information about home countries and European minimum standards in regard to the reintegration of “asylum seekers” EQUAL and the European Refugee Fund must support the equal information gathering, method development directed towards countries of origin and networking of European organisations involved
Background information & &
Asylum seekers in numbers…. Table: numbers of asylum applications in the last three years according to the formal definitions Source: Inter Governmental Consultations Germany Spain The Netherlands Austria Europe
The Equal programme Table: Numbers of Asylum seekers participating in Equal projects in In the projects present SEPA/ Germany700 ENEAS/ Spain2.300 JOB SHOP/ Austria181 BTW/ The Netherlands150 HIT/ The Netherlands450