This Manifesto
on Refugee Integration in Bulgaria is a national programme document and an
advocacy tool which covers all the main areas of refugees’ integration in
Bulgaria. It is based on the understanding that integration is an investment
allowing newcomers to get involved in the country’s economic, social and
cultural life as soon as possible, and thus become self-sufficient and
contribute to the benefit of the host society. Another important consideration
is that the government and the local authorities play the leading role in the
integration of beneficiaries of international protection, while the
non-governmental sector has supporting and auxiliary functions.
The Manifesto proposes restoring
the National Programme for Refugees’ Integration which
was operational in 2005–2013 when the Programme was implemented by State Agency for Refugees with
funding from the state budget and was defined as a good European practice.
Moreover, the Manifesto proposes that this Programme be upgraded with the now
effective legal framework – the Ordinance on
the terms and procedures to conclude, implement and terminate integration
agreements with beneficiaries of asylum or international protection – which
provides for the active participation of municipalities and focuses on
integration at the local level. Applying the best aspects of the two approaches
ensures that while being in the procedure or soon after receiving a status the
persons will start the adaptation process, and only those of them who are
motivated will have the opportunity to participate in the integration programme
at the local level.
In view of the above, the
following is proposed:
1)
Setting up a new institutional structure,
which includes:
- The designation of a Deputy Prime Minister
who is responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the
integration policy for refugees in Bulgaria;
- Broadening the scope of competences of the
State Agency for Refugees by establishing an Adaptation
and Integration Directorate with three departments – Adaptation and Initial
Integration; National Integration Programme; and Information and Analysis;
- The active involvement of
municipalities/districts which are willing to host refugees for integration on
their territory, and receive, for that purpose, targeted funding and
support.
2)
Developing a comprehensive integration
process at two stages:
- Adaptation and initial integration – the
target group are persons who seek asylum or received international protection
within the last one year. It comprises a training and a practical module: Bulgarian
language training; civic orientation training; providing refugees with an
overall idea about their future and development opportunities in Bulgaria; involvement
of minor and underage persons in education; access to the labour market for
adults; building relations with the host community via contacts with
institutions, volunteers, companies, etc.;
- National Integration Programme – the
target group are individuals who have been granted international protection and
have been through the first stage. A one-year integration agreement is
concluded between a refugee and a municipality/district; the agreement provides
for the provision of flexible support such as housing, civil registration and
issuing of IDs, Bulgarian language training, education, healthcare, employment,
social assistance and social services, monthly integration allowance,
information provision and empowerment.
In view of the
above, the responsible Deputy Prime Minister has to ensure sustainable
funding from the state budget, EU funds or other sources.
The development of this
Manifesto is the first-ever initiative in Bulgaria. It was carried out in
November 2021 – June 2022 in the context of:
-
The completion of the 6-year work on the NIEM project during the period
2016–2022, which included research and advocacy activities aimed at improving
refugees’ integration in Bulgaria;
-
The start of the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021–2027;
-
The start of the new 2021–2017 EU Programming Period;
-
The start of the Recovery Plan for Europe;
-
The overall re-thinking of life and policies in the aftermath of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
This initiative Manifesto on
Refugee Integration in Bulgaria was conducted by Multi Kulti Collective, Bulgarian Council on Refugees
and Migrants in partnership with UNHCR Bulgaria, in cooperation with a number
of stakeholders, including experts from institutions, international
organizations, the non-governmental sector, the academia, businesses,
representatives of the refugee communities in Bulgaria, etc. They participated
in the document development through a series of national roundtables, expert
meetings and online consultations.
The Manifesto on Refugee
Integration in Bulgaria was drafted as part of the National Integration
Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) project co-financed from the Asylum, Migration and
Integration Fund of the European Union.
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