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Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

in 2007 and 2010 and include examples of career guidance for several age
groups.
A 2005 communication from the European Commission, European
Parliament, the European Social and Economic Committee and the Committee of
Regions established the common agenda for integration (European Commission,
2005a) of third-country immigrants in the EU, which provides guidance to national
States on how to strengthen the implementation of the CBP’s while attempting to
ensure coordination between EU and national policy levels. The 2005 agenda
encouraged policies addressing labour market integration, by enhancing third-
country immigrant rights to employment and support for qualifications and skills
recognition through guidance services, plus follow-up measures to assess third-
country immigrants’ labour market outcomes.
In 2008 the European Commission communication A common immigration
policy for Europe: principles, actions and tools (European Commission, 2008b),
gave continuity to the European Council conclusions on the strengthening of
integration policies in the EU (Council of the European Union, 2007), highlighting
principles, actions and tools to create stronger links between the inflows of
migrants to Europe and economic growth. The Commission’s communication
provided stimulus to the development of career guidance services to immigrants,
recommending improvement in matching migrant skills to growth needs, through
validation processes and recognition of foreign qualifications.
The Commission green paper on migration and mobility (European
Commission, 2008a) also highlights policy priorities linked to the integration of
children with migrant background, referring to the importance of coordination
between policy fields, outreach initiatives to immigrant communities, language
skills development, and provision of guidance. The paper makes direct reference
to the development of guidance activities, mentoring and tutoring, and their
integrative potential.
In 2009 the EU launched the blue card directive (Council of the European
Union, 2009d) with the aim of attracting third-country high-skilled labour. The
directive creates a harmonised fast-track procedure and a set of common criteria
for work contracts, professional qualifications and a minimum salary level; these
allow the issuing of a special residence and work permit, the EU blue card. The
card supports intra EU mobility, grants access to the labour market and social
support, and aids family reunification. The adoption of the directive at national
level has direct implications for guidance procedures for arriving individuals,
which must quickly enable highly skilled immigrants to engage in recognition of
qualifications and validation of skills.

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