Speech
Video: https://youtu.be/XokY2aRqREw
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very pleased to open today’s European Dialogue on Skills and Migration, where we are also launching the initiative “Employers together for integration”.
First, I would like to thank in particular my colleague Marianne Thyssen, for being here today, but also the representatives of employers who have joined us, as well as representatives of social and economic partners.
Our initiative today is about expanding and upscaling the many good examples in Europe that we have on labour market integration of migrants.
There is so much engagement and commitment already in Europe today by the private sector when it comes to investing in immigrant integration.
We want to build on this, and multiply it all over Europe.
Dear friends, what we today launch today is about the very future of Europe.
It is about the social fabric and cohesion of our societies, but also about our economic performance overall.
In the aftermath of the refugee crisis, when we know that many asylum seekers will have received protection and will stay in Europe for the time to come, we cannot afford that their integration fails.
Unfortunately, so far the EU has known a bumpy road when it comes to the integration of migrants.
What many have failed to see in the past is that investing in integration today will make our societies more prosperous and cohesive tomorrow – for everyone.
Integration of migrants does not mean we leave behind others who need our support. It means we have to make sure everyone participates.
Successful integration is to the benefit of the whole society. But the success of integration doesn’t only depend on governments.
Integration is not just a two-way street, for governments and migrants only.
It’s a multi-street. We need a multi-stakeholder approach. And the role of employers is key in this process.
And this is precisely what “Employers together for integration” is about.
I am pleased to have many of you with us today, setting an example not just in your country, but across countries in Europe.
Your experience can serve as an inspiration for others.
I call on employers, big or small, to visit our initiative online, to sign up, to share their good practices and commit to future ones.
We need you on board, and we are ready to support you in this endeavour!
We want to create a snowball effect and I hope you all will help us do it.
I look forward to hearing your experiences today, and count on your continuous involvement for the future.
Because integration matters!
Thank you.
Doorstep
Video: https://youtu.be/4iAbj8hFB_E
Integration is not just a moral or social imperative, but also an economic one!
Integration is not just a two-way street: it’s a multi-way process.
The success of integration doesn’t just depend on governments or migrants, employers have a key role!
We want to change the narrative on migration and integration. You need to invest now to reap the benefits in the future.
Today we are dealing with the consequences and failures of integration of the past 50 years in Europe.
We cannot have history repeat itself. In the context of the refugee crisis: we have no time to waste!
Today I have already heard so many good examples, so much engagement and commitments in the private sector.
We want to multiply this all over Europe.
I call on employers, big or small, to visit our initiative online, to sign up, to share their good practices and commit to future ones.
We need them on board, and we are ready to support them!