Immigrant Integration Policies in Europe

Abstract

This Chapter aims to analyse immigrant integration policies in Europe. The ‘traditional national models of immigration and integration’, which for decades have oriented the integration of immigrants in Europe, have been gradually blurred by the European convergence towards civic integration—that is policies asking immigrants to demonstrate their knowledge of the language, culture, and traditions of their new country of residence, to obtain a residence permit or the citizenship status. Language and cultural skills generally favour the socio-economic integration of immigrants into the host society. Nevertheless, the current characteristics of civic integration, based on criteria of selection and control of immigrants, risk undermining the social cohesion of European societies, since they intend to pursue differentiated integration pathways. This Chapter provides an introduction to the concept of integration in Europe and explores the different ‘traditional models of immigration and integration’ in the continent. In doing so, I seek to demonstrate in what ways the previously distinct models are converging towards civic integration and what implications this shift could bear for immigrants’ integration in the host society.