摘要：Improving political integration of immigrants is an important task for theEuropean Union. The number of people with an immigrant background in theEU is gradually rising, a trend that is expected to continue. As a result,immigrants and their descendants are likely to play an increasingly significantrole in the political life of Member States as well as at the European level.Nevertheless, political parties in the EU seem to have neglected this phenomenon. Immigrants from third countries and their descendants do not frequentlyappear as party members; party leaders at the local, regional, national and EUlevels; or as paid officials and candidates. Political parties should thereforeconsider more carefully the political potential of immigrants and theirdescendants.
