2. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities Flanders-Brussels Minderhedenforum Dont talk about us but with us

3. Presentation ethnic-cultural minorities in Belgium Objectives Flemish policy Political opportunity structure Acces points Representative Organisation Strategies

4. Our objectives talk with ECM instead of talking about them bringing together ECM strengthening the voice of ECM: one united voice = stronger voice increase the participation of ECM increase the understanding and respect between different groups in society

5. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: Flemish policy I Inclusive approach Categorical approach

6. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorites: political opportunity structure Political opportunity structures consist of consistent – but not necessarily formal or permanent – dimensions of the political environment that provide incentives for people to undertake collective action by affecting their expectations for success or failure. (Tarrow, 1994, p. 85)

7. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: acces points I Formal acces points member Commission Diversity SERV member VLOR (Algemene Raad en twee deelraden) member stakeholdersforum VDAB = respresentatives employers, - employee and focus groups =education systeem,labour union- parents, … = eg. representative respresentartives different target groups Informele acces points Contact with Flemish departments Contact with parlement commissions Contact with political parties [1

8. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: respresentative Flemish governement consists of 17 member federations: total: 1,500 local migrant organisations in Flanders & Brussels financed by Flemish government since 2000

9. Forum for Etnical-cultural minorities: organisation

10. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: strategies

11. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: critical success factors -policy windows -knowledge of file (usp) -advocacy coalition isolation -political opportunity structure

12. Forum for Ethnic-Cultural Minorities: improvements -Not respresentative -Not enough political support -Negative perception

13. Forum of Ethnic-Cultural Minorities Thank you