1. The role of mutual learning in Migration Integration policies
Maria Ilies
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Disability & Inclusion Unit
Refugee Task Force
11 April 2017

2. How does mentoring fit within the European focus on youth development and the integration of migrants?
Mentoring in terms of EU policy making: peer learning, mutual learning, policy guidance and support - central to EU policy-making in the social inclusion area;
Member States learning and sharing with each other;

3. Mutual learning is an essential tool in today’s employment and social policy context;
Participants create a platform of mutual learning to reflect, share, consolidate and transfer knowledge, experiences and good practices.

4. Mutual learning provides a powerful means to:
Help the Commission and Member States achieve better performing and more inclusive labour market and social protection systems across the EU
Support the social Open Method of Coordination and European Semester, and deliver the Europe 2020 targets

5. Mutual learning activities include:
thematic events;
peer reviews;
learning exchanges;
dissemination seminars;
database collection of practices.

8. Peer Reviews provide an ideal opportunity to discuss country policies with European peers
In-depth assessment of a country policy, with the goal of either helping the examined country to improve its performance within that policy field or for the peer countries to learn from the host country’s experience;
Participation:
On average 10 peer countries, each consisting of government representative and independent expert
Representatives from other relevant stakeholders or international organisations
Thematic expert to provide insight and knowledge
Duration of event: 1.5 days

9. Examples of how the MLP activities have been used in policy making
Launch of new projects / legislation / policies (including in relation to services for integration of refugees; research on possible implementation of ‘senior guarantee’; tackling labour market challenges; minimum wage; e-services; and individual counselling); Policy discussions (e.g. to put national practices in a European perspective, sometimes defend them or to seek other approaches and learn from other countries’ successes and mistakes); Tweaking existing policies/approaches (e.g. benchmarking has become a step in the implementation process of every new project; preparation of evaluation plan that clarifies limitations and conditions to conduct counterfactual impact evaluation).

10. EU mandate: what the EU can do in the field of integration of third country nationals
No harmonisation of legislation.
The integration of third country nationals is a competence of Member States.
Yet the Commission has an important role to play in providing support and incentives for Member States' actions. Available EU funding, peer learning activities and policy guidance are important tools in providing these incentives and support.
Art 79(4) TFEU :
"… may establish measures to provide incentives and support for the action of Member States with a view to promoting the integration of third-country nationals residing legally in their territories, excluding any harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States".

11. 2017 Peer Review Programme in the area of Social and Labour Market Inclusion of Asylum Seekers and Refugees
1. Competence Check for the Labour Market Integration of Female Refugees, Vienna, June 2017
2. Integration of refugees into the labour market, Berlin, October 2017

12. THANK YOU