The first European inter-ministerial Conference on integration policies, organized on the initiative of the current Dutch Presidency of the European Council, was held in Groeningen, in Holland, from 9 to 11 November. Starting from the assumption that “the adoption of an effective policy for integration is important not only for the stability and cohesion within the member states, but also for the EU as a whole”, experts in problems of immigration and social welfare and European Ministers discussed possible solutions to accelerate and improve the process of the integration of immigrants. The conclusions of the Conference especially stressed the following points: the need to reinforce programmes for the creation and promotion of shared citizenship; increase attention to young immigrants, also of the second generation; combat extremism and discrimination; and more actively involve families and educators in the integration process.
