Congress on integration of foreigners to be held

The Círculo Europa Baleares, which has the backing of 23 organisations connected with foreigners living in the Balearics, has organised the First Congress of Residents for Integration, which will be held in Palma on November 24 and 25. Pepe Ballester, one of the promoters of the Círculo (which was created last January), and the congress, said yesterday that about 115'000 Europeans live in the Balearics and many of them, particularly the elderly, have problems as they are unaware of how local aid systems work. Ballester admitted that many people did not pay social security here or in their own country and did not do anything to integrate, but said that Majorcans also had a certain responsibility in the creation of ghettoes. The congress will take place in the Pueblo Español, and papers will include the problems of the elderly, harmonising European social security systems, German crime, integration and the laws on foreigners in Spain. The congress will be attended by representatives of the Palma city council, the Council of Majorca, the Balearic government and the central government's office, as well as many citizen organisations. Ballester said that the chief aim is to analyse the existing situation and prepare a blue paper on the integration of European residents, adding that in this case, European would be extended to all foreign nationalities. Hans von Rotenhan, another of the promoters, said that foreigners and Majorcans should work towards a common society.