The European Parliament this afternoon adopted a report on ‘integrating refugees into the labour market’.

This is an important issue for the Greens who see the refugee situation first and foremost as a humanitarian crisis.

Jean Lambert MEP was the shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA groups in the European Parliament on the report. She made this comment:

“I’m very pleased the European Parliament has got behind measures which would help refugees who come to Europe to integrate and to find work. All European countries should extend a warm welcome to refugees and help them build new lives and contribute to European society – the proposals in this report would go a long way to achieving that.

“For once I am happy to see support for cutting ‘red tape’ in the form of anything that hinders refugees and asylum seekers from getting into work quickly.

“It is important that governments do not undermine these efforts by issuing short-term residence permits only, as these make employers reluctant to offer training or long-term contracts. We must not risk unnecessary delays in giving refugees full access to the labour market – this is a waste of their skills and puts unnecessary burden on the state.”

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Made up of a network of asylum seekers and refugee led associations and initiatives, ERAD’s mission is to encourage and empower refugees and asylum seekers to engage more directly in the defense of their own rights and interests.

Jean Lambert, who contiunues to campaign for the rights of asylum seekers and has been awarded for her work on Justice and Human Rights, has endorsed the organisation.

Speaking after the launch London’s Green MEP said; “ERAD will be a focal point and a forum for discussion, information exchange and advocacy directly composed of asylum seekers and refugees based in Europe.

“Asylum seekers and refugees can be particularly vulnerable when they have been forced to leave their homeland as well as their family and friends. Sadly their opinions and wishes on the details of their new future are regularly ignored.

“ERAD has an important and distinctive role to play in ensuring that the voices of asylum seekers and refugees  are directly represented and heard in the most effective way at European level.  There is, in my view, a real need for those perspectives to be represented and heard and ERAD will meet this important need.”

ENDS

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