Integration Policies, Practices and Experiences – Poland Country Report

This report focuses on integration policies towards beneficiaries of international protection in Poland in the period of 2011-2019. It also sheds light on the experiences of integration of the beneficiaries of such protection. The findings of our research indicate that the case of Poland is characterised by lack of official integration strategy. Several legal acts deal with different aspects of integration policy (narrowed to those concerning the beneficiaries of international protection) yet to a varying degree and not specifically devoted to it. In general, beneficiaries of international protection are granted equal rights with Polish citizens in the areas of access to labour market, education, healthcare, and housing.  The Individual Integration Programs (IIPs) entitle refugees to cooperate with social workers from family support centres, who assist them in coordinating communication with various institutions. Beneficiaries of international protection who were interviewed for the purpose of this report mostly gave positive feedback regarding support received from social workers.  With regard to education of refugee adults, the most important challenges appeared to be learning of Polish language and recognition of education and experience obtained in the countries of origin.