Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe - Multiple Choices

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Refugees in Central and Eastern Europe
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like for refugees and they are usually right. On the other
hand, NGOs too often face a lack of self-reflection of their
own work, which is not always qualified; this does not help
to improve the position and the image of NGOs. Ideally,
from my point of view, the state should, in cooperation with
NGOs, academic institutions, and other bodies, define the
goals of integration policy, the measures for their fulfilment,
and create corresponding conditions, rules, and control
mechanisms. The role of NGOs is clear: implementing,
consulting, and proposing new measures according to their
practice and so on. I would like to make one more point
which I consider very important: NGOs should not be
centralised and cover a whole spectrum of activities, but
rather be specialised, function more or less regionally, and
network in order to keep their virtually only, but fundamental,
advantage over the state: flexibility, proximity to the life of
their clients, and deep knowledge of the environment.
A.S.: With regard to integration policies towards
migrants and recognised refugees in the Czech
Republic, do you see some kind of development over
the last few years, and if yes, in what direction?
V.G.: I have already mentioned the improved Concept of
Integration of Foreigners, which is more concrete; for example
it leaves out vague or even dangerous proclamations of
“supporting the foreigners’ communities” and so on.
Certain positive development can be observed in communication
between the state authorities and NGOs, the state's
endowment policy as well as in other areas. The persisting
problems are: the position of recognised refugees on the
labour market, their access to rental housing, the fact that
they often live in poverty, and the weak socioeconomic
status of long-term residing foreigners (third country
nationals), which makes them look for illegal or parallel
structures rather than use legal and transparent ways. This
diminishes their potential desire to integrate, especially
when they decide to stay for a longer time or forever.
A.S.: Let me ask a very practical question now,
can you describe how a successfully integrated
migrant might look in the Czech context? Taking
into account the huge diversity of migrants, is it
at all possible to come up with a set of features
which would indicate successful integration?
V.G.: Undoubtedly yes, even though there can be, and are,
ongoing debates about what measure of each feature is
sufficient. But as we speak about very idiosyncratic issues,
it is necessary to simplify. My limited and very general
definition would be that a successfully integrated person
understands and accepts principles of the local system
of values, and rules; stands on his or her own feet as an
independent, original individual and is accepted as such
by the receiving community (or the majority, if you want).
The last point I want to stress: if we consider integration
as a two-way process, then we must not forget about it.
There are many examples (e.g. from the State Integration
Programme) when it had not been considered whether the
local community had at least some potential to receive
a refugee as a fellow-citizen. This depends on many factors
such as a functioning community life, job opportunities,
and others.
A.S.: Many of programs and activities of CIC are
focused on supporting migrants' integration into
the Czech labour market, what are the key issues
you deal with in this field? What are the most
significant problems?
V.G.: To be brief, there are seven most significant problems.
On the part of migrants, these are 1) language barriers, 2)
troubles with recognising their qualification and 3) often,
a loss of work habits (especially after undergoing the asylum
procedure). On the other side it is: 4) discrimination, 5)
lack of knowledge of foreigners' rights and duties, 6)
administrative objections, and last, but not least, 7) rampant
habit of the Czech employers to employ foreigners only
illegally without any interest to hire them on the basis of
a regular contract and to comply with their obligations as
employers. But this is just a quickly picked out segment
of various kinds of problems...
A.S.: And finally, the mission statement of the CIC
reads: the key role of the Centre is in working
towards easy and mutually rewarding relationships
between people from foreign countries, coming
from different cultural backgrounds, and people
living in the Czech Republic. This and similar
statements appear quite often in the language of
Czech non-governmental organisations, could
you specify what exactly you mean by the mutually
rewarding relationship? How, in concrete terms,
do you see migrants' contribution for Czech society?
V.G.: It may surprise you, but I will not speak about demographic
reasons, cultural enrichment and others, but in my
opinion somewhat debatable things. I consider migration
as a natural phenomenon. I mean, it is not only good or
bad, it is simply natural and we must deal with it somehow.
And in such terms, it is also a challenge for us: migrants'
contributions will depend on the conditions we provide for
them. The question is whether we know what we want and
what we need. Right now, it looks like we prefer migrants
working in dirty, semi-legal or illegal conditions and structures
(mostly ethnically based) rather than migrants working and
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Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity