In June 2025, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its sixth-cycle monitoring reports on five member states, reviewing developments in the fields of equality, inclusion, and action against racism and intolerance. While recognising significant progress in some areas, ECRI identified persistent challenges requiring urgent attention and issued a series of recommendations to the national authorities concerned.

Türkiye

ECRI observed that Türkiye continues to host large refugee populations, including significant numbers of Syrians, Iraqis, Ukrainians, and other groups under temporary and international protection. Persons under protection have access to education, healthcare, and social services, with vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors, prioritised for psychosocial support and rehabilitation.

ECRI highlighted several positive initiatives, including related to language courses and vocational training. However, ECRI urges the authorities to significantly strengthen their cooperation with and support for local authorities and their efforts regarding the integration and inclusion of protection beneficiaries. It also recommends that the authorities redouble their efforts to facilitate the integration of temporary protection beneficiaries, as well as other beneficiaries of international protection, into the labour market.

Croatia

ECRI noted a significant rise in migration, with over 68,000 people seeking international protection in 2023 and nearly 113,000 new residence and work permits issued to foreign workers. Despite these developments, Croatia still lacks a comprehensive national policy on migrant integration.

ECRI recommends the adoption of a national strategy or action plan for the integration and inclusion of beneficiaries of international protection and other migrants, ensuring adequate resources and consultation with civil society. In this context, the authorities are encouraged to draw inspiration from the Council of Europe’s Model Framework for Intercultural Integration. While some cities have introduced positive local measures, such as an integration plan and an Information Centre for Refugees and Migrants established in Zagreb, ECRI highlights persistent gaps in language learning, access to education and healthcare, and stresses the need for stronger national-level coordination.

Sweden

ECRI noted that over 20% of Sweden’s population was born abroad, but migration has slowed due to stricter policies, with departures exceeding arrivals in early 2024. A government inquiry is currently considering the introduction of a mandatory civic orientation programme for newcomers, including a national curriculum on democracy and gender equality.

Integration responsibilities are shared between national, regional, and municipal levels, with municipalities providing language and civic courses, adult education, and schooling. The Public Employment Service also offers an introduction programme for refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection aimed at supporting labour market integration. However, ECRI noted that the Tidö-agreement (i.e. a formal policy agreement

concluded between the Government coalition and the right-wing Sweden Democrats party) included some alarming proposals that would require asylum seekers to pay for their own reception and that would raise the requirements for obtaining a residence permit and reduce the socio-economic support for migrants. ECRI recommends that authorities review and develop policies aiming at improving the integration of foreign nationals residing in Sweden and refrain from any action, including at legislative level, which would lead to unjustified differential treatment of such persons.

Portugal

ECRI noted that Portugal hosted over one million resident migrants in 2023, the highest figure ever recorded, but nearly 30% of people with a migration background report experiencing discrimination, particularly Brazilians and nationals from Portuguese-speaking African countries.

Recent reforms include the establishment of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and ongoing efforts to reinstate the Observatory for Migration to strengthen evidence-based policymaking. While the 2024 Action Plan for Migration sets out measures for “humanist integration that works.” ECRI calls for a comprehensive national programme of actions with specific targets, measurable indicators, and strong civil society involvement.

Persistent challenges remain, including labour exploitation (especially in agriculture), widespread discrimination in housing, with 90% of migrants reporting barriers, and rising homelessness among migrants awaiting residence permits. ECRI further highlights the need for better support for migrant children’s education improved access to Portuguese language courses, and stronger cooperation with and support for local authorities.

Latvia

ECRI reported that, as of December 2023, Latvia had over 126,000 registered migrants, with nearly 40% holding permanent residence permits. Since 2022, over 43,000 displaced Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection status. In 2023, Latvia launched a “One-Stop-Shop” integration support network in Riga and four regional centres, providing assistance with residence permits, employment, education and healthcare, as well as translation and interpretation services. ECRI considers this a good practice and also welcomes the “Ukraine to Latvia” platform, created by civil society to assist displaced persons.

ECRI encourages the authorities to expand Latvian language courses. It also recommends that the authorities pursue their efforts to support unemployed third-country nationals, refugees and other persons in need of international or temporary protection in their integration into the labour market.