Brussels, 18 June 2025 — Following the release of the European Commission’s mid-term review of the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns that investment in integration “is not an optional extra” but rather an integral part of any well-functioning asylum and migration system.
The EU’s Action Plan launched in 2021, and is due to end in 2027. Yet, so far, just a fraction of the initiatives promised have been completed - only 25% of those relating to housing, 15% in the area of education and training, and none in the areas of health or employment and skills.
The mid-year review admits that while some progress has been made, considerable challenges remain, noting that “migrants and people with a migrant background continue to be at a higher risk of poverty and face disproportional difficulties to access employment, education, and essential services, which hinders their social inclusion and overall well-being and reduces their capacity to contribute to their host society”.
The review adds that if highly-educated migrants had the same employment rate and opportunities as their native-born counterparts, the EU would have around 760,000 more highly educated people working. Workers born outside the EU are overrepresented in occupations facing persistent labour shortages, showing their importance for the EU economy.
The IRC is now calling for EU states to set bold targets and commitments for the coming two years, and to launch a new Action Plan in 2027 to keep up this vital work which should underpin the EU’s broader asylum and migration strategy.
Meron Ameha Knikman, IRC’s Senior EU Advocacy Advisor, says:
“If the EU truly hopes to create a sustainable, effective migration and asylum system, it needs to urgently shift its focus away from deterrence measures and onto integration. The IRC’s teams working across Europe see everyday how supporting people with access to housing and services, to learn a new language, train for qualifications, or enter the labour market helps them to rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities. This is not an optional extra - integration is key to any well-functioning asylum and migration system. It’s a vital piece of the migration puzzle which benefits both new arrivals and host communities alike.
This review of the EU Action Plan underscores the immense positive impact made by the EU’s efforts to support people forced to flee Ukraine. The same proactive, inclusive approach must now also be extended to newcomers from other countries, who equally need support to survive, recover and thrive in their new homes.
Since EU states are ultimately responsible for integration laws and policies within their own borders, we’re calling for them to set and meet bold commitments during the coming two years. When this Action Plan ends in 2027 it should be immediately followed by another robust EU initiative to continue this critical work. The failure to make this a reality would drive further political polarisation, undermine the EU’s own objectives, and deprive its citizens of a wealth of talent and diversity.”
On Wednesday 25th June, the IRC is co-hosting an event on this topic in Brussels - “We’re Better Together: How to simplify and improve refugee integration and access to the labour market” - featuring speakers from the European Commission, Parliament, the Polish Presidency, IRC, UNHCR, and the INGKA Group | IKEA. Find out more and register here by 6pm today (or contact us via email after that).