Community integration, equality of opportunity and equality of outcome

Our team was commissioned by the Welsh Government to explore the opportunities and outcomes for EU citizens in Wales and suggest ways to support the integration process. This work is part of the EU Citizens Rights (EUCR) project, which aims to encourage EU citizens to remain in Wales and ensure that they are protected from exploitation and exclusion.

Using public survey data, we compared outcomes of EU citizens living in Wales to Welsh citizens in the areas of employment, housing, health and benefits, language skills and national identity. We also actively engaged with EU citizens, local government officials and organisations providing support to EU citizens living in Wales to explore broader areas and issues in the integration process. Our study concluded with a set of actionable policy recommendations that can be implemented to improve the integration of EU citizens in Wales. Our report is available on the Welsh Government website.

Here are some of our key findings:

EU citizens living in Wales want to feel welcome. According to an EU citizen who participated in the study: “I felt well integrated in Wales before Brexit with my EU heritage not being an issue. After Brexit I no longer feel so well integrated”.
One mechanism that research participants proposed to make EU citizens feel welcome after the UK’s exit from the EU is to run a welcome campaign, similar to the London Is Open Welcome Campaign.
Not having appropriate information might prevent EU citizens from successfully integrating into the community.
EU-27 nationals are less likely to apply for benefits than UK nationals, with the exception of housing benefits.
To overcome the information barrier, the Welsh Government should consider building an online portal providing a brief overview and links to official websites about all aspects of integration for EU citizens.
Secure and long-term provision of funding to organisations and charities that help EU citizens living in Wales is important to ensure this population group is adequately supported.
EU citizens, especially those from EU-8 countries, are often in jobs for which they are over-qualified. One explanation for this is that employers do not understand qualifications from EU-8 countries.
EU8 countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia; EU2: Bulgaria and Romania.
People should be informed of how their qualifications can be recognised in Wales, and employers should be supported in increasing their understanding of qualifications from EU countries.
Many individuals, mostly from EU-8 and EU-2 countries, are not proficient in English, even after living in Wales for an extended period.
Additional provision of English lessons would be beneficial, especially for individuals born in EU-8 and EU-2 countries. Classes could be delivered either in the community or in the workplace.