Indicator history

The First National Action Plan for the integration of migrants was adopted in 2010 and covers the period 2010-2012. It includes 8 priority pillars:

(1) information, service, transparency (reception, public awareness, enhancement of relations with countries of origin, training and education of civil servants, statistical records, exchange of knowledge with other member states, encourage interactiob and cultural exchange, involving local authorities to provide support and educational programs, learning the driving code and driving, asylum awareness campaigns, agreements of friendship and exchange with countries of origin, training of civil servants involved in examining asylum applications, seminars for teachers on intercultural education, upgrading computer system of Migration Department, opinion surveys on pupils' and adults' perceptions of immigrants, research on evaluating indicators and assessment methods of integration measures, identifying vulnerable groups amongst third country nationals and addressing their needs, opinion surveys on perceptions of third country nationals regarding public services, conferences on integration procedures, setting up mediterranean cooperation networks. 

(2) Employment, training, trade unions (reception of third country nationlais, awareness of employers, awareness of migrant workers regarding the right to join trade unions, access of migrant workers to complaints procedures, enouragement to establish own clubs and unions, set up information and communication mechanism for third country nationals, vocational training, publication of information guide in 6 languages etc).

(3) Education and Language Learning ( Greek language courses for various levels)

(4) Health (response to emergency situations, prevention/treatment of infectious diseases, health services to school children of migrant origin, free medical treatment to asylum seekers, recognised refugees and long term residents, access to ifnromation, psychological support, free medical treatment ot immigrants in exceptional cases, access to health services, culture-specific behaviours, research on access of immigrants to health system, free emergency treatmnet, vaccination and examination programs, information on anti-smoking, reproduction, prevention of diseases,psychological support and social assistance for asylum seekers, rehabilitation unit for victims of torture).  

(5) Housing - Improvement of quality of life, social protection and interaction (response to emergencies, reception and temporary housing, access to safe housing, support family cohesion and family solidarity networks, research to record the current situation, increase capacity of current reception centre for asylum seekers at Kofinou, support NGOs to set up help centres, provide services and organise events aiming at preserving the immigrants' cultural identity) 

(6) Culture, civics, basic elements of political and social reality (actions targetting new pupils to assist with their integration in the educational system, puhlish information in various langauges on the school system, camping involving local and migrant children, educational seminars for journalists, NGOs, local authorities, Cypriot parents, pupils and teachers, publication of information leaflets in various languages) 

(7) Participation (support to NGOs for setting up cultural centres, encourage immigrants to set up own associations and unions, participation in local elections).

(8) Assessment, annual and total.

The national action plan is based on a number of European instruments such as the Council Directives on anti-discrimination, family reunification, students, researchers and long-term residents, the "11 Common Basic Principles for Integration" approved by the EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs on 19.11.2004, the Common Agenda for Integration (Com(2005)389 Final), the European Fund for Integration of third country nationals and the New European Fund for Refugees, the Stockholm programme 2010-2014 and the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum