Three crucial trends have put integration at the forefront of politics and policy across the world. First, the poor socioeconomic performance of certain groups of migrants have led to an examination of how best to manage the business of integration; second, demographic and labor market trends have led to shortages (that will only intensify in the future) where migrants are required for jobs; and third, threats to security have prompted a need to reevaluate social cohesion.

Integration is understood very differently in countries around the world. MPI, as the leading global think tank on migration, has unique access to how integration is conceptualized and understood.

The crucial observation remains that the different strategies and policies countries have put in place, and the experiences of immigrant integration they have had, provides an "evidence base" for what works. The Center will use this evidence and learn from what is done well, and avoid what is not.

Europe and Its Immigrants in the 21st Century: A New Deal or a Continuing Dialogue of the Deaf?
By Demetrios G. Papademetriou
March 2006

Managing Integration: The European Union's Responsibilities Towards Immigrants
By Rita Süssmuth and Werner Weidenfeld
Bertelsmann Foundation and MPI, October 2005

Social Integration of Migrants in Europe: A Review of the European Literature 2000 – 2006
By Sarah Spencer and Betsy Cooper
MPI and OECD, September 2006

There are 34 to 37 million migrants in the European Union (about 8 percent of the population).

Islam is Europe’s second largest religion: There are now 15 to 20 million Muslims in Europe.

MPI is working closely with the German and Portuguese governments (as current and future holders of the European Union Presidency) to develop the integration policy framework in Europe. We are partners in the forthcoming German Presidency conference on May 10-11, 2007, in Potsdam, which is only the second time integration has been addressed at a dedicated EU Presidency ministerial conference. The first was by the Dutch in 2004 in Groningen, which was also co-organized by MPI.

Integration of Newcomers: International Approaches
Metropolis, Winter 2006

The Acquisition and Loss of Nationality in 15 European Countries
By Rainer Baubock, 2006

Denmark: Integrating Immigrants
By Ulf Hedetoft, November 2006

Citizenship Policies for an Age of Migration
By T. Alexander Aleinikoff and Douglas Klusmeyer
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2002

Common Basic Principles For Immigrant Integration Policy in the European Union
Council of the European Union, 2004

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Immigration, Integration and employment
European Commission, 2003

Handbook on Integration for Policy-Makers and Practitioners
European Commission, 2004

Unity and Diversity in Multicultural Societies
By B. Parekh
International Institute for Labour Studies, 2005

Integration processes of migrants in the European Union and policies relating to integration
By R. Penninx, 2005

Immigrant Policy for a Multicultural Society: A Comparative Study of Integration, Language and Religious Policy in Five Western European Countries
H. Vermeulen, Editor
MPG/IMES, 1997

Migration and Social Cohesion
S. Vertovec, Editor
Edward Elgar Publishers, 1999