EU Ministers discuss integration and intercultural dialogue 04-05-2007 How can the Member States of the European Union (EU) improve their
cooperation on integration? And how can they strengthen the intercultural
dialogue? These are the two key questions addressed during the meeting of EU
integration Ministers in the German city of Potsdam on 10 and 11 May. The
Ministers have been invited by the German Federal Minister of the Interior, Dr
Wolfgang Schäuble, as part of the German EU presidency.
One of the most important challenges of EU home affairs policy is achieving
full integration and ensuring equal opportunities for the second and
third-generation descendants of immigrants. Dr Schäuble comments: “a successful
integration policy is an essential prerequisite for future immigration; it is
crucial to preserving freedom and maintaining social cohesiveness ". The meeting
in Potsdam will focus on agenda-setting for future cooperation. The Member
States will also discuss new national initiatives aimed at better integrating
immigrants into the host societies.
Facilitating and strengthening the intercultural dialogue, particularly on
local level, is also a priority issue on the agenda of the meeting.
“Intercultural dialogue is particularly important for ensuring stability and
internal security, given the growing Muslim population in many Member States”,
Dr Schäuble says. Germany intends to propose regular meetings at working level
to share experience, develop common strategies, and coordinate measures to
address current problems.
The first meeting of European integration Ministers was organised by the
Dutch Council Presidency in November 2004. The Potsdam ministerial is the first
follow-up meeting.
Source: Germany 2007 – Presidency of the European Union back |
