1. 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

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. Background information  www.european-conference-maastricht.net www.european-conference-maastricht.net  www.jobshop.at www.jobshop.at  www.eneas-equal.org www.eneas-equal.org  www.raise.de & www.sepa.de www.raise.dewww.sepa.de  www.backtowork.nl www.coa.nl & www.hitlimburg.nl www.backtowork.nlwww.coa.nlwww.hitlimburg.nl

6. Asylum seekers in numbers…. Table: numbers of asylum applications in the last three years according to the formal definitions Source: Inter Governmental Consultations 200120022003 Germany88.28771.12750.565 Spain9.4896.1795.920 The Netherlands32.57918.66713.400 Austria30.13537.07432.360 Europe422.445405.924324.946

7. The Equal programme Table: Numbers of Asylum seekers participating in Equal projects in 2001-2004 In the projects present SEPA/ Germany700 ENEAS/ Spain2.300 JOB SHOP/ Austria181 BTW/ The Netherlands150 HIT/ The Netherlands450