Welcoming refugees is not only a matter of asylum procedures or providing the international protection needed, it is also a matter of helping people find a place in our society. Integration can also bring so many cultural and economic benefits to host countries. There's many inspirational refugee stories all across Europe. It might involve cricketers in France, interpreters in Germany or award winning photographers in Italy. The EU is built on unity through diversity, but it's up to Member States to decide whether to allow refugees into their countries.

culture

migration

sport

human rights

Refugee integration: Transcending borders

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/20495507/B001-ESN-280217-EN.srt

The demography shows us that we are  a continent where we will need people

to come and to work  and to settle here

in order to maintain the level  of our welfare systems all over.

The refugees that arrive here  in Germany have to adapt.

They come from a totally  different culture,

and they don't know  how things are here.

At the beginning when I came  here, it was very difficult,

The trainers in the youth   centre really helped me,

German people think:  the refugees have to get a job.

But from my own experience,  I've always noticed that as a refugee

you have to be twice as good...  compared to a German.

Sometimes that is not so simple,  but I managed it anyway.

At a moment when   many EU Member States

are turning away from the  European motto of "united in diversity",

it's important to remember the European  values of hospitality and solidarity. 

A major effort also needs  to be made for integration policies

that will benefit not only the refugees,  but the host countries as well.

I had never thought that one day  I would become a photographer, 

but when I went to the community centre,  somebody gave me a disposable camera.

He was still living in the Termini station  and decided to start photographing

the homeless people who were  living with him in the streets.

and after a while one of his pictures  "J'habite à Termini"

won a prize and was exhibited  at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

The most important value  in life for me is

and to succeed in effectively changing  something with your contribution. 

They are here to give their contribution  to growth and prosperity for Europe,

and that's why it's so  essentially important

that we open up every possibility  for them to integrate into our societies.

We can never, on the European level,  legislate integration 

because it falls under the scope  of subsidiarity, the national competences.

But we can foster an  atmosphere of integration,

and that is your responsibility  and mine. We have to share that.

Abdullah is the best  batsman on our team.

He has a wonderful temperament  and a fantastic smile.

He's also one of the best success  stories, because he works and he studies.

to involve the players  in the cricket team

and help them to really  integrate in France.

I would like to become  a cricket champion for France.