Indicator history

The National Action Plan on Integration (NAP) was accepted in the Council of Ministers on January 19th, 2010. It comprised a report laying out definitions and the most important fields of action, a paper on indicators of integration and a catalogue containing a systematic collection of measures in the field of integration carried out so far by the state, the federal states, communities, organisations of the social partnership and civil society and other community organisations.

On January 12th, 2011, the Minister of interior presented an expert group which is being appointed to give advice on the implementation of the NAP. In July, 2011, the group presented a report on 20 proposals for the implementation of the NAP. The proposals correspond with the seven field of action presented in the NAP. In the field of language and education the experts recommend an assistance package on German before immigration, initiatives on the promotion of German courses for immigrants who have been residing in Austria for a longer period, the strengthening of the participation in the educational system and sanctions for violating the obliation to attend school. In the area of work and job the group proposes the acknowledgment of foreign job and school qualifications and the increase of the employment of female migrants. Concerning health and social issues the experts suggest the enhancement of health awareness among migrants and the improvement of awareness of diversity in the field of health and nursing. In regard to the rule of law and values the group recommends a primer accompanying the "Rot-Weiß-Rot-Card" (a residence permit for highly qualified persons) in order to impart the Austrian culture of values and rights, to promote the interest of people in obtaining citizenship and to publicily promote examples of successful migrants (embassadors of integration). In the field of intercultural dialogue the experts suggest the establishment of a forum on Islam, the development of a Code of Conduct for media in reference to the handling of the subject integration in the media, the introduction of a media award on integration and the promotion of young journalists with migration background. Concerning the area of sports and leisure the group recommends an improved cooperation between schools and NGOs and to enhance integration in the federal sport promotion. In the field of housing and regional policies the experts propose an initiative on housing in order to avoid segregation, property management which respects principles of diversity and the promotion of competences about integration on a municipal level.

However, as the NAP in general and the proposals of the expert group are quite recent initiatives there is no evaluation on the concrete implementation available so far.

Sources: http://www.integration.at/fileadmin/Staatssekretariat/4-Download/Integrationreport.pdf; http://www.integration.at/fileadmin/Staatssekretariat/4-Download/Vorschl%C3%A4ge__Zusammenfassung_.PDF; http://www.integration.at/integration_in_oesterreich/expertenrat/