The Basque Government presents to European social organizations its reception model and the correct care for migrants.

• The community sponsorship programs, Trapezistak, Harrera, Aholku Sarea and the set of actions and services aimed at the population of foreign origin, especially young people, are part of the examples proposed by the Basque Country
• Participation in Brussels in the 8th European Migration Forum
• Furthermore, it poses as “a challenge the recognition of the skills of migrants who arrive in Europe without study certificates or with unjustified work experience”
• The new professional training that is now being prepared in the Basque Country will try to address these issues
• What is difficult today is the recognition of the skills of migrants while waiting for official accreditations
• Mrs. Ylva Johansson insists on “creating a talent pool for people from outside the EU in which offers and vacancies are presented”

Brussels, 2023 12 04

The Basque Government has presented to European social organizations its reception model and the challenge of providing proper care and management to migrants. The community sponsorship programs, Trapezistak, Harrera, Aholku Sarea and the set of actions and services aimed at the population of foreign origin, especially young people, who wish to work and live with dignity and respect, are part of the examples proposed by the Basque Country.

The executive, whose Migration and Asylum Directorate is led by Mr. Xabier Legarreta, has also posed as “a challenge the recognition of the skills of migrants who arrive in Europe without study certificates or with unjustified work experience.” A representation of the Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies has participated, in Brussels, in the “8th European Migration Forum – Needs, skills and communication for greater inclusion”.

The Conferences are organized by the Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission and bring together non-governmental organizations, Third Sector associations and local and regional authorities. The European Commissioner responsible for Migration, Mrs Ylva Johansson, opened the Forum detailing that “last year there were 3.5 million legal migrants in Europe, which is not bad” and has proposed “creating a pool of talent for people from outside.” of the EU in which offers and vacancies are presented.

“We are working with legal channels with certain countries. Since the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum we have regained trust. We are awaiting the “trilogues” between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union, which are on the verge of reaching an agreement on this issue,” said Commissioner Johansson.

Today's debate was presented by Mr. Ali Al-Jaberi, and in it, Mrs. Julie Martinaud, member of the Forum organization, highlighted that the 140 institutions of the Forum “are obliged to help all displaced people and migrants for any issue. In the next elections to the European Parliament, we cannot allow projects based on the dehumanization of emigrants and we cannot vote for xenophobes.”

Mr Rudi Osman, from the Union of Exiled Students of Syria, has called to “inspire action and seek new legal avenues for migration.” Mr. Seppe Nabels, from the Brussels Culinary Academy, gave the example of his experience: “I opened a cooking academy, now with 110 migrants working in restaurants after 4 to 8 months of training. We train them in traditional and seasonal cuisine.” One of his students Mr. Faeiq Al-Mamoari, from Iraq, now a chef at the Academy, has narrated how in his country he lost family and job, and “now here I have a new life and job. We learn Dutch and become literate. Dishes are made and stories are communicated. In addition, lunches are made with students for 7 euros, without financial support from the Government.”

Hope

Ylva Johansson has commented that “the history of the culinary academy is hopeful. They are positive experiences. How do we change the narrative of migration?... When I started working in this social area, migration was considered toxic. Migration has always existed and will exist. Do not be afraid of it. Changing the narrative implies changes: one of them is acting against migrant smuggling networks. You have to go to the top of the traffickers. I have presented proposals for harsher penalties of 8 to 15 years in prison; When shipwrecked in international waters, harsh sanctions are also necessary. Many states see how these trafficking networks are interrelated.”

After the opening of the Forum, various working groups have been held in which the Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies of the Basque Government has participated. Mr. Thomas Liebig, of the OECD, has highlighted that “migrant employment is reaching records, and it is necessary to facilitate the transition from school to work for the descendants of migrants.”

In another debate, Mrs Tina Zournatzi, from the General Directorate of Migration of the European Commission, commented that “we are in the era of misinformation and polarization of Migration.” For his part, the German journalist from Deutsche Welle, Mr. Chiponda Chimbelu, has shown his concern about how migration is reported and has offered data on migration in the German media: 4 out of 10 Germans say that migration is a major problem. However, only 10% of those who participate in the surveys have a migrant origin, while people with that origin make up 25% of the population.”