"Evaluation and monitoring: a common system. Further work at European level is
necessary on the development of benchmarks and indicators so as to evaluate
integration policies more effectively. To that end, the Annual Report on
Immigration and Integration should be improved and become a more
comprehensive information and monitoring tool, covering Member States
activities in more detail, including policies at local level and the contribution of
civil society. To help steer the EU agenda, it should also identify new areas for
action and make recommendations for future policy. Yardsticks relating to
various areas of integration (e.g. employment rates, quality of housing,
education possibilities, etc.) are needed to help shape policies more effectively.
National monitoring mechanisms should be set up, but Europe should also
develop a common, rigorous system of evaluation of integration processes in the
EU. In fact, we have already started this work with our financial support of an
important INTI project carried out by the British Council with a group of
renowned academics and practitioners 'Migrant Integration Policy Index', who
are developing an extensive and focused list of indicators that could be used
throughout Europe."
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