The Portuguese Strategic Plan for Migrations 2015-2020 is available in the Government’s portal for public consultation between 26th January and 6th February 2015. During this period, everyone interested in the issue of international migration can present his/her proposals and opinion using the following e-mail address pem@madr.gov.pt  . The Plan is composed of 102 measures and stresses the need to attract foreign citizens with particular attention to students, researchers, artists and other talented migrants, besides the promotion of integration of immigrants and respective descents living in the country. To enable entrepreneurial immigrants to open their business there will be support through specific programmes. The target is to provide training for 200 immigrants per year and open 20 businesses / year.

The Plan stresses the demographic deficit, “a social, economic and political national emergency”, and enumerates the following five challenges: migratory balance; the consolidation of the integration of immigrant communities living in Portugal; the inclusion of new Portuguese citizens who acquired citizenship or of immigrant descent; the response to international mobility through the internationalization of Portuguese economy by attracting immigrants and seeing immigration as an incentive to economic growth; and following-up the growing Portuguese emigration flows.

The Plan also includes the opening of a new portal enabling the management of migration services in a de-materialized form. This is the Migrant Simplex and it will be possible to formulate a visa request for Portugal anywhere in the world. Moreover, the enrolment procedures for foreign higher education students in Portugal will be easier and faster, as well as for family reunification.

In the area of education and culture, the goal of the Plan is to reach an average of 5800 trainees per year and 2500 certified trainees.

Concerning the transition of immigrant descents to the labour market, the Plan foresees measures promoting the social responsibility of enterprises in order to provide internships or employment for skilled young descents. The goal is to reach 50 annual experiences with effective job placement.

The Choices Programme will have a central role to fight down social, school and professional exclusion of immigrant descents. The goal is to reach an annual rate of school success of 70% and 2000 school reintegrations in vocational training and employment.

Once approved, the Plan will be financed by EU funds.

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