On 31 May, the third meeting of the Working Group on Integration of BIPs was held, co-chaired by BCRM.

On 4 April, the second meeting of the Working Group on Integration of BIPs was held, co-chaired by BCRM.

BCRM participated in this meeting in relation to the preparation of Concept Note of the Home Affairs Programme under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. There were proactive discussed the issues and challenges about unaccompanied minors from third country nationals, return of third country nationals, services for people searching international protection and how will the outcomes contribute to fulfilling overall objectives of Norway grants. The importance of refugee integration was underlined and information was shared that the integration related activities under Norway grants will be implemented by NGOs.

At the beginning of March (02-03.03), the chairperson of the Council participated in European Migration Forum. This event has long-term benefits because of the access for the latest trends and know-how practices for integration of refugees.

BCRM participated in UNHCR strategic planning meeting on 28^th February and joined discussions in the integration working group.

On 2 February 2017 Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, Multi Kulti Collective and CERMES teamed up to organize an inspirational intercultural evening in Sofia called “Refugee and Migrant Integration – Innovative Practices”. Among the speakers were Anna Krasteva from CEMRES who presented the Re.Cri.Re Project, Bistra Ivanova and Kina Sabeva who presented NIEM – All In For Integration, Stana Iliev, Neda Sokolovska from Studio for Documentary Theathre VOX POPULI, Diana Nedeva from Caritas, Azhar Alomar, Mathijs le Rutte from UNHCR, Hairi Hamdam.

We’d like to thank all our guests coming from national authorities, international organziations, academia, NGOs, journalists as well as migrants, refugees, volunteers… It was lovely sharing this evening together!

The meeting was co-funded by EU’s Horizon 2020 under the ReCriRe project and EU’s AMIF under the NIEM – All In For Integration project.

Our goal is threefold: to share and exchange ideas and practices of integration through innovative business initiatives, employment, education, art; to develop and strengthen civil society networks of interculturality, openness, solidarity; and to enjoy together multicultural communication.

On 24 January, the first meeting of the Working Group on Integration of BIPs was held.
The BCRM was selected jointly with UNHCR as co-chair of the Working group.