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"Theoretical background and objectives Comparative research on ethnic educational inequalities has repeatedly shown that Belgium is one of the countries with the most severe ethnic penalties in education (Marks, 2005; OECD, 2006, 2007). This project tests contextual explanations for educational disadvantages among the second generation in Belgium, since common explanations from a comparative stratification perspective in terms of social background or family resources could not fully explain lower attainment levels among the Turkish and Moroccan second generation in Belgium (Phalet, Deboosere and Bastiaenssen). The first study looks at the role of ethnic composition in the municipality as a proxy for ethnic capital and compares different concepts of ethnic composition both theoretically and empirically. The second study asks to what extent the positive ethnic density effect found in the first study is conditional on neighbourhood structure, arguing that dense social networks with co-ethnics are more easily developed and maintained and yield more returns for educational success in more stable, higher quality neighbourhoods. Research design, data and methodology Multilevel analysis is applied to individual data from the 1991 Belgian Census and contextual data of all Belgian municipalities in order to examine contextual influences on ethnic educational inequality. Findings The first study shows that the percentage of ethnic minorities goes together with lower school completion rates among the Belgian majority population, but the effects are inconsistent among the three largest ethnic minority groups in Belgium, the Italian, Moroccan and Turkish second generation. In contrast, ethnic density, i.e., the presence of co-ethnics in the municipality, is positively associated with school completion in minority as well as majority groups. The second study reveals that ethnic density and neighbourhood quality overlap strongly among majority Belgians and the Moroccan second generation, albeit with opposite sign, such that the absence of ethnic minorities goes together with more favourable neighbourhood structure, while concentrations of Moroccans occur in the least attractive neighbourhoods. Among the Turkish and Italian second generation, we find, as expected, that the effects of ethnic density depend on neighbourhood stability and quality. These results confirm differential trajectories of integration of the three largest ethnic minorities in Belgium."

De centrale vraag die met dit onderzoek wordt beantwoord, luidt als volgt: Hoe kan de stijging in de periode 2018-2019 van het aantal incidenten op COA-locaties en de van misdrijven verdachte personen die op enig moment in het peiljaar op een COA-locatie verbleven worden geduid? Voor het beantwoorden van deze vraag is een analyse gemaakt van de incidenten op COA-locaties en van de criminaliteit waarvan COA-bewoners zijn verdacht. Hierbij is ook ingezoomd op kwaliteit van de geregistreerde data. Tevens zijn de kenmerken van de asielzoekers en COA-locaties beschreven. Voor het onderzoek waarbij het Incidentenoverzicht 2019 het uitgangspunt vormt, zijn drie onderzoeksmethoden gebruikt, namelijk: deskresearch, bestandsanalyse en een interviewronde. De databestanden zoals gebruikt voor het maken van het Incidentenoverzicht 2019 zijn opnieuw samengesteld, en waar mogelijk aangevuld met relevante extra variabelen.

Het project ‘Longitudinaal cohortonderzoek asielzoekers en statushouders’ heeft als doel om de positie en de leefsituatie van statushouders te onderzoeken en veranderingen in kaart te brengen. Dit is de vierde kwantitatieve studie binnen dat project. Deze studie is verklarend van aard en richt zich primair op Syrische statushouders. Zij maken verreweg het grootste deel uit van de groep statushouders die in de afgelopen jaren in Nederland is komen wonen. De studie gaat na welke factoren van invloed zijn op veranderingen in de positie en de leefsituatie van Syrische statushouders, met een sterke focus op de rol van beleidsfactoren. Hiermee pogen we beter zicht te krijgen op cruciale factoren die een goede start faciliteren. Wat werkt (niet)?

The overall goal of COMETHA Project is the construction and operation of an integrated precommercial industrial facility for the production of 80,000 t/y of second generation bioethanol starting from lignocellulosic biomass (ethanol plant conversion yield: from 4.3 to 1) at Porto Marghera (VE, Italy). The plant will be the first in its kind at pre-commercial scale and will validate the innovative Biochemtex PROESA technology, already tested at pilot scale and in the next future through the operation of a 40,000 ton/y cellulosic ethanol Demo plant in Crescentino (start-up 2013). With the support of Venice Town and petrochemical companies, the realization of the Marghera 2G flagship will provide data for commercial scale-up and it serves as a vehicle for ongoing renewable technology improvement and bioethanol market deployment. The project will address the development of the sustainable biomass supply chain based on c.360,000 tonnes of lignocellulosic biomass per year derived from the Region of Veneto, such as dedicated perennial crops (Arundo donax) and agricultural residue (corn stover, the most suitable feedstock for bioethanol production in the considered geographical scenario). The COMETHA project will focus on demonstrating the second generation process steps in an integrated industrial scale biorefinery, including key innovative units (such as innovative proprietary pretreatment, SSCF with the use of novel high performance enzymes and modified MOs, high efficiency integrated distillation and dehydration system, valorisation of secondary streams and process integration). Moreover, a preliminary and detailed LCA of the bioethanol flagship plant for both Arundo donax and corn stover will demonstrate a substantial reduction in terms of GHG emissions of the 2G ethanol with respect to gasoline (82% and 86% respectively): this will certificate the respect of the scientific and technological quality criterion and the sustainability of Biochemtex PROESA technology.

FastPass will establish and demonstrate a harmonized, modular approach for Automated Border Control (ABC) gates. FastPass brings together key players of the entire ABC value chain - system and component producers, research institutions, governmental authorities and end-users. The development of a harmonized ABC gate will be accomplished with continuous end-user involvement. The entire innovation process, from components development to the final design of the user interface, will continuously be evaluated by the two end user groups, travellers and border guards. Border control is a major challenge for security and mobility within the EU. Travellers request a minimum delay and a speedy border crossing, while Border Guards must fulfil their obligation to secure the EUs borders against illegal immigration and other threats. Fastpass will serve both demands at the same time to keep security at the highest level while increasing the speed and the comfort for all legitimate travellers at all border control points. The FastPass ABC process will be designed to address both requirements with equal emphasis. One aspect of a speedy border crossing by legitimate travellers is a harmonised user interface. This will allow frequent travellers from Europe and third country states to pass through an ABC with minimum delay, using the full potential of ID documents. Improved traveller identification technologies, such as new biometric modules will increase the security of the ABC process and minimise spoofing. A demonstration and evaluation at all types of border (air, land and sea) will be implemented in at least three different member states. Compliance with European societal values and citizens’ rights is central to the acceptance of the developed technologies, and will accompany the development and end-user interaction throughout the project. FastPass will develop a reference architecture for ABC gates, and will pursue a European initiative for a global standard in ABC technology.

Abstract: Turkey witnessed a massive influx of Iraqis in both 1988 and 1991, when respectively around 50,000 and 460,000 Iraqis sought refuge there. In 2003, Turkey took measures to guard against another mass influx: and though around two million Iraqis fled out of the country, only 10,000 arrived in Turkey. However, a larger number may flee to Turkey, particularly if security deteriorates in the northern parts of Iraq. Turkey is the only one of Iraq’s direct neighbours to be party to the UN Refugees Convention. Yet, Turkey nevertheless introduced a geographical limitation: Iraqis, like other non-Europeans, are not granted refugee status. However, the customary law principle of non-refoulement is applied to anyone, including Iraqis, considered either as “asylum seeker” or recognized as de facto refugee. With regard to the protection provided and the rights recognized, there is not much difference between their situation and a 1951 UN Convention refugee, except that they are not meant to stay and integrate into Turkey but to be resettled in a third country. Both procedural and substantive international refugee law standards are applied in Turkey. The UNHCR also plays a part and decides the cases of persons who have applied for “refugee status” in Turkey, helping the resettlement of Iraqis in third countries. Turkey has adopted a system for dealing with individual asylum claims and the system seems to have satisfied international legal standards. However, the system is not designed to answer collective asylum claims and might collapse in the event of a massive influx. Résumé La Turquie a déjà connu deux arrivées massives d’Irakiens en quête d’asile, en 1988 (50.000) et 1991 (460.000). En 2003, elle a pris des mesures pour prévenir une nouvelle arrivée de cette ampleur, il est en effet assez remarquable que seuls 10.000 des 2 millions d’Irakiens qui ont fuit leur pays sont arrivés en Turquie. Néanmoins, de nouvelles arrivées sont considérées comme possibles, en particulier, si les conditions de sécurité dans le Nord de l’Irak venaient à se détériorer. La Turquie est le seul pays directement voisin de l’Iraq a avoir ratifié la Convention de 1951 relative au statut des réfugiés. Elle a cependant formulé une réserve géographique de telle sorte que les Irakiens, comme tout autre « non européen » ne se voient pas reconnaître le statut de réfugié en vertu de la Convention. Néanmoins, le principe de non refoulement, dont le caractère coutumier est reconnu en droit international s’applique à chacun, en ce compris aux réfugiés en provenance d’Irak, qu’ils soient considérés comme demandeurs d’asile ou réfugiés de facto. Au regard de la qualité de leur protection et de leurs droits, peu de différences notables doivent être signalées par comparaison au statut reconnu aux « réfugiés » en vertu de la Convention de 1951. Avec une réserve notable, ils n’ont pas vocation à rester et à s’intégrer mais à être réinstallés. Les standards procéduraux et substantiels du droit international des réfugiés sont applicables en Turquie. Le UNHCR y joue un rôle majeur, il prend la décision de reconnaissance de la qualité de « réfugié » et intervient dans les procédures de réinstallations dans des pays tiers. La Turquie a mis en place un système pour traiter des demandes individuelles d’asile et ce système semble généralement rencontrer les standards internationaux. Il n’est néanmoins pas adapté dans les hypothèses d’afflux massifs.