다문화사회와 사회통합을 위한 법정책 비교- 주요 EU국가와 한국의 사례 -

Many European countries have recently declared that their foreigner policy hadfailed. Failure to integrate foreign immigrants successfully would harm the economyand eventually lead to deep social divisions. The European Union(EU) and memberstates recognized the need for a new approach to immigration reform and integrationpolicy. The EU member states outlined a comprehensive immigration policy, andprovided that foreign immigrants legally residing in EU member states should begranted a set of uniform rights which are as near as possible to those enjoyed byEU citizens. While encouraging the immigration of necessary workers, the EU andmember states have also acknowledged that they must manage their integration intosociety. Decision-makers in Europe have reached a consensus that the current policy ofmulticulturalism has failed to integrate immigrants. Rather, most countries appear tobe moving towards a policy which mandates that immigrants “learn our language, ourhistory, our culture and live by our laws and values.” Successful integration intosociety is necessary to prevent the kinds of social divisions that provoked the riotingor the extremist violence in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Integration policy must go beyond facilitating the requirements for naturalization. Itmust ensure that legal residents enjoy, as far as possible, the same protections asnationals, including freedom from discrimination in employment, housing, educationand other social services, as well as meaningful access to the language and civicscourses and other educational opportunities that will prepare immigrants for fullmembership in host country. As in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Korea has faced similar challenges brought on by the influx of foreign workers and development of a multiculturalsociety. EU member states have a long history of immigration compared to Korea,and has developed policies for social, cultural and economic integration to secure thestatus and rights of foreigners. These states’ experience have significant implicationfor Korean society.