Local responses to the refugee crisis in Poland. Reception and integration

NIEM Analyses 2017

The unprecedented flows of migrants approaching Europe is confronting the European Union and its Member States with a variety of challenges. It is raising fundamental questions about the social and cultural structure of European societies. A great deal of attention has been paid to European and national regulations pertaining to the distribution and integration of refugees. At the same time, the refugee crisis is equally important on a local level. Both local authorities and various organisations (community-based organisations, schools, NGOs, employers, etc.) are facing various challenges relating to the reception and integration of the newcomers. They must provide an immediate response, often within a context of limited funding and political tensions. At the same time, the refugee crisis is often misunderstood by the general public, especially in the local communities experiencing an increased influx of refugees. Local initiatives have an important role then to play in demystifying some of these misconceptions. Integration is a policy area where the approach locally is particularly important. While immigration policy is usually created at the national level, its impact on migrants/refugees and the community are strongly felt at the local level.