Who represents those who are not allowed to vote? Which are their interests and their demands? Third country nationals have no right to vote in regional, national and European elections (some cannot vote even at local level), meaning they remain invisible and voiceless, despite their important contribution to European societies and the fact that they are affected by local, regional, national and European policies all the same.
Who represents those who are not allowed to vote? Which are their interests and their demands? Third country nationals have no right to vote in regional, national and European elections (some cannot vote even at local level), meaning they remain invisible and voiceless, despite their important contribution to European societies and the fact that they are affected by local, regional, national and European policies all the same. Moreover, the economic and political crisis that the European Union has been suffering in recent years has meant that the issue of the integration of migrants has been overshadowed by the change in political discourse on the European political agenda, and yet their integration into our societies remains as important as ever.
The Raval Project has sought to enhance the political participation, representation and integration of immigrants and has given a voice to those citizens through a qualitative research focused in El Raval, the neighbourhood of Barcelona in which CIDOB is located and with the highest concentration of third country nationals (with more than 20,000 non-EU citizens making up over 40% of the total population).
As a result of the research, based on ten in-depth interviews and four focus groups with third country nationals and representatives of immigrant associations; the Raval Project presents through Javi, Mariam and Miguel’s testimony, the perceptions, demands and expectations of these citizens on three chapters: invisibility, integration and aspirations.
Javi is 25 years old and came from Guinea with her mother when he was only 9. On September 27, Javi could vote for the first time in regional elections in Catalonia but he did not go to the polls. He considers that no party represents him and that the EU sees immigration as a problem to solve.
Miguel is 54 years old and arrived from the Philippines in 1986. The Filipino community in Barcelona is one of the largest and oldest in Europe. 60% of this community lives in El Raval. For him, language is one of the main obstacles for their integration but he hopes that future generations will be able to join the political life of the city.
Mariam is 24 years old and came from Pakistan when she was 14. At the time we interviewed her, she was about to give birth. She considers El Raval her home and the place where she wants her daughter to grow. She is actively involved in an association of Pakistani women.
On January 25, the Raval Project will present three short documentaries at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, as well as a policy brief with policy recommendations with the aim of giving voice to these citizens.
