IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

This paper synthesizes the main steps in the building up of the policy of the European Union in the field of immigrant integration. After exploring the legal basis for the implementation of this policy, it analyzes the contributions made by the Tampere and Thessaloniki Councils, the Common Basic Principles on Integration, the European Integration Fund, as well as the different reports and statements issued by the European Commission, the Eurean Parliament, the European Economic and Social Council and the European Council. It finishes by proposing the so-called Open Coordination Method as a way of deepening European policy in this field, given the fact that the main competences regarding immigrant integration remain with the Member States.