Integration of asylum seekers and refugees – legal access to labour market and EU Funding EESC – 15 October 2015 J. Savary, L. Aujean Legal Migration and Integration DG Migration and Home Affairs European Commission

Experience from the past: refugees do 'catch up' but it takes time Employment rate by immigrant categories and duration of stay in European OECD countries, 2008 Source: Based on EU-LFS 2008 module. Extracted from OECD, Is this humanitarian migration crisis different?, September 2015

1 – Legal access to labour market for beneficiaries of international protection Directive 2011/95/EU on standards for the qualification of third- country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection (article 26) Shall have immediate access to labour market, i.e. upon granting of the status Equivalent conditions as nationals for (and facilitation of access to) employment-related education opportunities for adults, vocational training, including training courses for upgrading skills, practical workplace experience and counselling services afforded by employment offices Same conditions of employment apply (remuneration, access to social security systems relating to employed or self-employed activities and other conditions)

1 – Legal access to labour market for asylum seekers Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU (recast), article 15 "Member States shall ensure that applicants have access to the labour market no later than 9 months from the date when the application for international protection was lodged if a first instance decision by the competent authority has not been taken and the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant" (applicable from July 2015) Other conditions may apply and in particular, "Member States may give priority to Union/EEA citizens, and to legally resident third-country nationals" but effective access should be ensured State of play is currently mapped by the Commission (given that 19 MS did not communicate on the transposition measures)

Duration before labour market access Countries Direct accessEL, PT, SE 3 monthsAT, DE 6 monthsBE, CY, CZ*, EE, ES, FI, IT, NL, PL + DK*** 9 monthsBG*, HR*, FR, HU, LV, LU, SK, SI One yearMT**, RO** + UK*** No accessLT + IE*** *: assuming that draft laws (reducing the duration) that have been announced have effectively been passed and entered into force **: have announced that legislation will be put in conformity with Directive 2013/33/EU but no information confirming it ***: not bound by the Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU

Examples of other conditions Countries Full access without work permits FI, IT, LV, SE Full access with work permitsBE, SI, CZ, MT Access granted only upon labour market check AT, FR, EL, LU, HU, DE Restricted access to certain professions AT, CY Other criteria (time limitation, …) NL Source: EMN ad-hoc query 654 (access to the labour market for asylum seekers)

2 – EU funding for the integration of asylum seekers and refugees  Mostly three Funds at EU level for national, local authorities and NGOS to finance projects for the integration of asylum seekers / refugees -- The Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), managed by DG HOME -- The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) managed by DG EMPL -- The European Social Fund (ESF) managed by DG EMPL  Possibility to use this EU funding depends on the status of the target group

Timeline / Status of the persons Eligible support by AMIF Eligible support by FEAD Eligible support by ESF Arrival in the Union YES Material aid, including food, clothing, accommodation, assistance at the border. Education, training, support services, health and psychological care. Language training. Social assistance, help with administrative/judicial formalities. Counselling on asylum procedure. Legal assistance YES Food assistance Basic material assistance NO

Timeline / Status of the persons Eligible support by AMIF Eligible support by FEAD Eligible support by ESF Applicants for international protection having no access to the labour market yet YES Same as above and access to integration measures Examples: Training and preparatory actions to facilitate access to the labour market. Advice on housing, administrative and legal matters. Self-empowerment. Dialogue with receiving society. Promoting equality. Capacity-building of beneficiaries (NGOs, etc.) YES Food assistance Basic material assistance Social inclusion actions YES BUT LIMITED ACCESS Vocational training in case the national rules so provide. Education for children. Equipment necessary to implement the above measures.

Timeline / Status of the persons Eligible support by AMIF Eligible support by FEAD Eligible support by ESF Applicants for international protection and having access to the labour market YES Same as above YES Food assistance Basic material assistance Social inclusion actions YES General access to ESF support, including equipment necessary to implement these measures Examples: Training Education Coaching Counselling activities

Timeline / Status of the persons Eligible support by AMIF Eligible support by FEAD Eligible support by ESF Beneficiaries of international protection YES Same as above YES Food assistance Basic material assistance Social inclusion actions YES General access to ESF support including equipment necessary to implement these measures Examples: Training Education Coaching Counselling activities

Other EU Funding sources for migrants: - Structural funds (DG REGIO): Investment projects (housing, reception centres) - European Investment Bank: loans for local authorities for investment projects (housing, etc) - Rural development Fund (DG AGRI)