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The Implication of EU Membership on Immigration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market INTERNATIONAL PROJECT (2007 – 2008)

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The Implication of EU Membership on Immigration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market INTERNATIONAL PROJECT (2007 – 2008) The Implication of EU Membership on Immigration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market INTERNATIONAL PROJECT (2007 – 2008) organised by the: Economic Policy Institute with the kind support of the: This international project is organized by the Economic Policy Institute, in cooperation with the Council on Social Work Education, Alexandria, VA; Katherine A. Kendall Institute and the Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest with the kind support of the German Marshall Fund of the United States The German Marshall Fund of the United States is an American institution that stimulates the exchange of ideas and promotes cooperation between the United States and Europe in the spirit of the postwar Marshall Plan. S O F I A 2 0 0 8 1 © 2008 Economic Policy Institute Sofia, 1463, 2 Khan Asparouh Str., Fl. 3, Ap.9 Responsible: Plamena Spassova Copy Editor: Yasen Georgiev Prepress & Design: Lachezar Marinopolski, Ni Plus Publishing house Print: Prim Trade Co. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Policy In- stitute or the governments they represent. Options expressed in the written or electronic publications do not necessarily represent also those of the German Marshall Fund, or its partners. The content of this volume does not fully cover the entire list of topics on the Conference’s agenda and does not entail the presentations of all contributors. For further information, please, refer to the List of Contributors or to EPI’s web site – www.epi-bg.org. The present edition is funded by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Washington. All comments regarding this publication are welcomed to: Economic Policy Institute 2 Khan Asparouh Str., Fl. 3, Ap.9 1463, Sofia BULGARIA Tel.: +359 2 952 29 47; 952 26 93 Fax: + 359 2 952 08 47 E-mail: [email protected] www.epi-bg.org ISBN: 978-954-9359-35-0 2 Contents List of Contributors to the International Project / 5 Introduction / 7 Immigration to Bulgaria – Preconditions and Possible Developments Yasen Georgiev / 9 Integration of Immigrants into the Labor Market – Best Practices in France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom Kalin Marinov, Plamena Spassova / 25 The Migration Policy of The Republic of Bulgaria – Contemporary, Realistic, Balanced and Ensuring Stability Hristo Simeonov / 57 Activities of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers Ivelina Novakova, Neli Filipova / 70 Legal Dimensions of Immigrant Access to Employment in Bulgaria: Contextual Analysis Diana Daskalova, Themba Lewis / 77 Immigration, Gender, Labour Anna Krasteva / 101 The Meaning of the EU Common Basic Principles for the Integration of Middle East Immigrants in Bulgaria Tihomira Trifonova, / 114 Immigrant Integration into the Bulgarian Labour Market: Policy Implications Dr. Rossitsa Rangelova / 133 Impacts of migration on the economic development of sending countries Prof. András Inotai / 153 3 Experiences with Migration in Hungary, with special regard to Labour Migration and Illegal Foreign Employment Dr. Klára Fóti / 184 Trends and Implications of Labour Migration Between Hungary and Romania András Majoros / 197 United States and Bulgaria Julia A. Watkins, Ph.D., Executive Director, Uma A. Segal / 214 Summary of the project on “The Implication of EU Membership on Immigration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market” (In Bulgarian) / 235 Policy Recommendations within the Project (In Bulgarian) / 238 4 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECT Diana Daskalova Lawyer, Legal Clinic for Refugees and Immigrants, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia Klára Fóti, Ph.D. Senior Research Fellow, Institute for World Economics to the Hun- garian Academy of Sciences, Budapest Yasen Georgiev Director “International Projects and Programmes”, Economic Policy Institute, Sofia Prof. András Inotai Director General, Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Acad- emy of Sciences, Budapest; President, Economic Policy Institute, Sofia Assoc. Prof. Anna Krasteva, PhD. Director, Centre for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Stud- ies at the New Bulgarian University Themba Lewis Manager, Legal Clinic for Refugees and Immigrants, Sofia, Bulgaria András Majoros Researcher, Public Foundation for European Comparative Minority Research Kalin Marinov Director “Economic Projects and Programmes”, Economic Policy Institute Rossitsa Rangelova Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Economics, Bulgarian Acad- emy of Sciences 5 Uma A. Segal School of Social Work & Center for International Studies, Univer- sity of Missouri—St. Louis, MO, USA Hristo Simeonov Expert, Migration and Free Movement of Persons Unit, European Coordination, International Legal Affairs and Cooperation Directorate Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Sofia Plamena Spassova Executive Director, Economic Policy Institute, Sofia Tihomira Trifonova Research Fellow, Centre for European Refugees, Migration and Eth- nic Studies at the New Bulgarian University Julia M. Watkins, Ph.D. Executive Director, Council on Social Work Education, Virginia; President Emerita, American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad 6 Introduction Dear Colleagues and Friends, The present volume contains the research findings of the successfully implemented international project “The Implication of EU Membership on Immigration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market”. The transatlantic initiative of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) was conducted within the period June 2007 – May 2008 thanks to the kind financial support of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (Washington) within the frameworks of the GMF Key Institutions Program on Immigration and Integration (Berlin). The project was conducted in close cooperation with partnering organizations from Hungary and the United States of America. The consortium involved the Council on Social Work Education, Alexandria, VA; Katherine A. Kendall Institute; the Institute for World Economics to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest and the Institution for Hungarians in Neighboring Countries, Budapest. In general, the transatlantic concept sought to examine the most topical and complex issues related to immigration and integration of immigrants into the labor market in Bulgaria. The specific goals of the action were to: ▪ Analyze the recent developments/changes of the immigrant flows, as a direct consequence of the Bulgarian accession to the European Union; ▪ Address the important issue of ensuring higher levels of migrant employment in the Bulgarian labor market; ▪ Examine what role can immigration play in filling labor short- ages/gaps, caused by emigration; ▪ Elaborate and publicly discuss advocating policies towards the Bulgarian Government. The international project aimed at laying down the groundwork for profound public debate and society’s engagement in the specific field of integration of immigrants and refugees in the Bulgarian society. The spe- cial focus of the conducted research was on the adjustment of immigrants to the host country’s living conditions and their integration into the lo- cal labor market. Applied and successfully-working Hungarian and U.S. migrant models and policies were shared in an effort to assist the process 7 of developing the existing governmental policies in Bulgaria towards im- migrants and thus to ensure higher levels of migrant employment, profes- sional and language training, re-qualification of immigrant workers, etc. As part of the project and within the time period June 2007 – March 2008 were implemented the following research and public activities: ▪ Two transatlantic expert meetings in Sofia (organized on De- cember 10 and December 13, 2007); ▪ One day study trip around the Sofia municipality – the expert team conducted meetings at the Temporary Detention Centre for Foreigners in Busmantzi and the State Agency for Refugees (December, 11 2007); ▪ One day study trip to Svilengrad - Border Check-point with Tur- key (December 12, 2007); ▪ Publishing of a research edition on immigration trends and foreign citizen’s integration into the Bulgarian labor market (March 2008). We are aware of the limits of the current edition to make you a part of the transatlantic project “The Implication of EU Membership on Im- migration Trends and Immigrant Integration Policies for the Bulgarian Labor Market”. Nonetheless, it is in EPI’s major goals profile and line of activity to publish and disseminate project’s findings and thus to actively contribute to widening the beneficiaries’ circles. EPI believes this is the proper strategy to provoke higher networking and international coopera- tion and we would like to thank the colleagues, friends and actors who have inspired, trusted and supported us throughout the years. We thank once again our donor - the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Last but not least, herewith the team of the Economic Policy Institute also would like to express its enormous gratitude to Mr. Danail Dimov, Director of the Temporary Detention Centre for Foreigners in Busmantzi; Ms. Ivelina Novakova, Work and Labour Office Expert, Integration Centre for Refugees of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers and Mr. Niko- lay Chilingirov, Head of Border Police Station in Svilengrad for their excel- lent cooperation within the whole duration of the transatlantic project. Ivanka Petkova Plamena Spassova Chairperson & Programme
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