See: Political Participation Rankings
The best case
This is a composite of the best policy practices from the MIPEX normative framework of high European standards. Each of these practices was found, as of 1st March 2007, in at least one of the 28 countries.
A migrant has opportunities to participate in public life which conform to Europe's highest democratic principles. The state guarantees her political liberties to form an association, even a political one, to join political parties, and thus participate in civil society. As a legal resident, she can vote and stand for local elections, just like EU-nationals. She can also vote at the regional level. At local, regional, and national levels, migrants or migrant associations independently elect representatives to structural consultative bodies that discuss the policies that most affect them. The state implements policies that actively inform her of her political rights and offer migrant associations funding or in-kind support under the same conditions as other associations.
The worst case
This is a composite of the worst policy practices that MIPEX found, as of 1st March 2007, in at least one of the 28 countries.
A migrant cannot contribute to the political decisions that affect his daily life. The state does not guarantee his political liberties to form an association or join and participate in a political party. As a resident, he may face more obligations than EU citizens living abroad in the same country, but he does not benefit from the same voting rights. Regardless of how long he lives there, he can never vote or stand for election to serve his community. Cities with the largest migrant populations have no consultative body to confer with them. Likewise, a migrant is excluded from contributing to decisions at regional and national levels. The state does nothing to implement policies to promote his political participation such as informing him of the opportunities that exist, or supporting migrant organisations.
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OBSERVATIONS
Policies in Western Europe are on average slightly favourable, while those in GR and Central and Eastern Europe are unfavourable. The 28 MIPEX countries diverge greatly on whether or not to grant electoral rights to non-EU residents. Five countries achieve best practice (the Nordic countries and IE), whilst 11 others grant no electoral rights; few fall between. Although full political liberties are granted to migrants in Western Europe, some are denied in CZ, EE, LV, LT, SK, and SI. The highest scores on consultative bodies belong to the Nordic countries, LU/NL, ES/PT, and IE. Critically unfavourable policies are found in ten countries.
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MIPEX normative framework
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Gsir, Sonia and Martiniello, Marco, local consultative bodies for foreign residents - a handbook, (Council of Europe;
Strasbourg, 2004).
