European conference on integration - the minister's speech

It has been a great pleasure and honour to host you at this conference, and we hope that you have had some inspiring days here in Copenhagen.

We have been looking forward to this conference – to discuss with you, how we improve conditions for young people with ethnic minority background in Europe and to discuss what young people can do for themselves and society.

This conference has been special, because we have not merely been talking about the young people, but with the young people.

We have listened to their recommendations.

For instance the youth ambassadors have recommended the use of role models and mentors.

Role models  - like young people who are active in education and jobs, inspiring and helping other young people, who for some reason feel inconfident that they too can be successful.

Mentors – like experienced business people or other resourceful people who guide and council young persons, assisting them in succeeding at the labour market.

In Denmark we – as government - have promoted the use of role models in our ongoing campaign “Need for all Youngsters”. Now the idea is spreading, and local municipalities are creating their own schemes for integration through role models.

Likewise with mentors. In one project in a technical school the percentage of students dropping out was sixty percent for students who did not have a mentor, whereas for students with a mentor the drop out percentage was zero percent.

But the young people are also saying something else: use the freedom of speech, make room for intercultural dialogue and different religions, give us a Youth Parliament.

In other words – the young people are very clearly speaking out for democracy. As one said: we must stand up for the things that unite us.

And they are quite right. The importance of democratic values cannot be overstated. A Danish parliamentarian with immigrant background has expressed it this way: "I am a democratic fundamentalist"

Democratic values like freedom of speech and beliefs, equal rights of men and women, rule of law, and personal freedom. 

Democracy may not be perfect. Only totalitarian ideologies claim perfection.

Shared democratic values are necessary for us simply to co-exist in a community. The linkage between freedom and responsibility is absolutely essential.

It is a bit like the traffic out on the streets, really. We move around on bikes, cars, buses as we please. But we all have to respect the same traffic rules in order not to hurt each other.

This is important, because amidst the many positive sides of cultural diversity, we also see problems.

We see gender and ethnic discrimination, threats or violence against persons from certain ethnic groups, against homosexuals or against persons with a certain belief.

This is not acceptable.

In extreme cases Europe has seen terrorist acts – something which has also been highlighted during this conference.

Only the other day a group of young people were arrested here in Denmark suspected of plotting a terrorist act. 

Let me say it with complete clarity: There is no excuse for wanting to harm innocent people. There is no excuse for wanting to undermine freedom and democracy.

Yet, we are left with the question, why do they do it, and what can we do to prevent it? Why do even seemingly well-integrated young people, born and bred right here in Europe commit such hateful acts?

Do we – the society, the parents - fail somehow, even if we succeed with integration in education and the labour market and other such indicators, that we can measure?

Some young people let themselves be captured by extreme ideologies and propaganda.

They turn against Western and democratic values and seek justification in perverted interpretations of religion, nationalism and international conflicts.

They may also feel divided between two cultures or nurture a feeling of rejection from society – whether or not it is in fact justified.

Perhaps they feel that radical groups open their arms to them and offer them simple explanations and a sense of belonging, which they for some reason do not experience elsewhere.  

I was very moved by the account we heard yesterday from Naema Tahir.

She explained how she had been looking for simple answers. How she had looked to religion. How she had distanced herself from the society in which she lived. She was ripe for falling prey to extremism.

But Naema also told us how togetherness with other young people had gradually changed her outlook on the world and on herself.

As she said: “In that dorm I got rid of my own myth of celestial paradise. It melted like celluloid in a candle’s flame. To go to heaven was an excuse not to live consciously on earth, not to ask painful questions about oneself, not to dare look for answers within oneself”.    

We need to ensure that other young people do not get absorbed in fanaticism and that they embrace the society, they are a part of. As Gijs de Vries noted: "It is a battle of hearts and minds"

All over Europe we have to create a convincing alternative to what the extremists are offering. And we can do just that.

Integration does not happen by itself, and a democratic culture must constantly be nurtured. It is imperative to address challenges - and problems as well. No one benefits from tiptoeing.

We need to work on many fronts simultaneously.

Education and employment must remain key areas of policy intervention. Not just in the context of combatting radicalisation but in the broader context of securing a society with opportunities and participation for all.

Several speakers have stressed the importance of education. It is our responsibility as political decisionmakers that we have an education system, which offers opportunities to the benefit of individual and society alike.

At the EU level there has come more and more focus on integration. We must continue to exchange views and ideas on this level. Also a common action plan on fighting radicalization has been adopted by the European Union.

I am very happy with the dedication of Vice President Franco Frattini and would like to thank him for his clear and comprehensive statement.

As we have heard, promoting cohesion, inclusion and equal opportunities should be key guiding principles for us all.

We need to activate youngsters, parents, volunteers, sports clubs and other actors in civil societies. This can be done through information, guidance, active dialogue and the many other tools that have been highlighted here at this conference.

We must promote democratic training and citizenship education for both school children and adults. Citizenship education is about acquiring social skills like empathy, responsibility and the ability to cooperate and solve conflicts through dialogue.

We must sustain an environment where radicalisation is not socially acceptable.

We need to create secure exit strategies for those who are already absorbed by radical groups, but want to get out.

I could mention many more areas of intervention.

They all add to what it is we have to offer to all young people: a welcoming and inclusive democratic community, where they can feel both included and responsible.

This will be a convincing alternative to all those, who have not been absorbed by radical and anti-democratic values, but who may be in danger of it, if we fail in demonstrating the strength of our democratic communities.

We need to demonstrate clearly, that it is precisely within the framework of a strong democracy that cultural diversity can unfold; and unfold in such a way, that the individual human being is responsible for others and is respected by others.

This should be our positive message from this conference.

The message is that we – the democratic society – invite everyone to participate, and that everyone - through personal experience – has opportunities to feel truly included: in the sports club, in the school, at the work place, in democratic fora at all levels.

In action as well as in words we must let all youngsters know, that they are welcome parts of our societies. We could start by discussing how to give the young people the European platform for dialogue they have proposed earlier today.

At this conference we have been listening to many constructive examples and viewpoints – both in plenary and in workshops.

The different speakers have given us new insights and inspiration as to how we can develop our societies – how we can become better at gaining from cultural diversity to the benefit of economy and business - and to the benefit of all people and societies of Europe.

I want to give a special thanks to the young people who for the last week worked hard to produce their proposals and suggestions, which have been presented at this conference. I think we are all proud of them.

We have listened to you carefully . We get the message. We will do our part to get the job done.

We rely on you to do your part. You are the ones responsible for shaping your own future. And from what we have heard and seen today - you will make it.

Thank you all – thank you for your active participation.