Integration of ethnic minorities and immigrants

Almost everywhere in the European Union, ethnic minorities and immigrants still suffer frequently from racist violence, hate speech and discrimination in accessing employment, education, health care, and public and social services.

Unemployment levels, poverty, school drop-out rates, homelessness and financial exclusion are much higher among immigrants and ethnic minorities than among the indigenous population.

The European Union has therefore given special attention to ethnic minorities and immigrants in its social inclusion programmes, striving to increase their participation in the labour market, as well as in social, cultural and political life.

A number of Peer Reviews and policy assessments have been carried out to analyse practices applied in the Member States and to identify the most successful approaches that could best be replicated or adapted in the future.