The refugee crisis has affected most countries in Europe. The Council of Europe is developing tools to support refugees to integrate and contribute to their new host communities. One such initiative is the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR). Based on the Council of Europe/UNESCO Lisbon Recognition Convention, the EQPR is being tested through a pilot project in partnership with the Greek authorities and the recognition centers of Greece, Italy, Norway and the UK.  The UNHCR also supports the project. 

The EQPR is a document providing an assessment of higher education qualifications refugees claim to have based on available documentation and a structured interview. It also presents information on the applicant’s work experience and language proficiency.  If the evaluator’s decision is positive, the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is issued and valid for five years from the date of issue.  Following two assessment sessions held in March and June 2017 in Athens, 53 of the 62 applicants interviewed received the EQPR. The next evaluation session will be held in September, also in Athens.

The EQPR allows refugees to have their qualifications assessed even when they cannot be fully documented, which is key for integration and progression towards employment and admission to further studies. The idea is to establish a system which can be used by other countries in the future, including on-line interviews.  Our goal is that the EQPR will be accepted in other countries, and that refugees and countries therefore avoid repeating assessment when refugees move.  In the long term, this methodology can facilitate and accelerate the assessment of refugees’ qualifications.

A follow up project in 2018 will, if funded, involve more countries and expand the pool of trained evaluators.

The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees will be presented and discussed at the Intercultural Cities Ten Year Milestone Event in Lisbon on 28-29 November 2017, to encourage cities to support refugees who hold this assessment document.