This sixth edition of the Integrating Cities Conference series, continuing a tradition of high-level dialogue between the EU and its major cities was hosted by EUROCITIES and the City of Tampere.

The conference brought together politicians and senior officials from Europe’s major cities, representatives from EU institutions, service providers, academics, refugee and migrant communities and the private sector to contribute to the agenda of integration of migrants in Europe.

Integrating Cities VI offered various opportunities for dialogue between local politicians and representatives of the national and European level. It also took stock of developments in the cities that have signed the EUROCITIES Integrating Cities Charter since its launch at the London conference in 2010.

Workshop 1 How can cities protect undocumented migrants?

At a time when there is an emphasis on enforcement action against migrants with irregular status, coupled with restrictions on access to welfare rights as a deterrent to irregular stay and broader cut backs in welfare provision, there is leadership from some cities to provide services to undocumented migrants as a matter of law and policy. This session will present findings from a study carried out by Open Society Fellow Sarah Spencer on city responses to migrants with irregular status. It will also present examples and discuss how cities can step up to the challenge of protecting undocumented migrants.

Participants: Utrecht (Jan Braat, Niene Oepkes), Genoa (Danilo Parodi PICUM, Michele Levoy), COMPAS / Oxford University (Sarah Spencer)

Workshop 2 Finding the key to multi-level governance

Although many talk the talk, not many walk the walk when it comes to multi-level governance. What are the keys to successful cooperation between cities, regions and national governments? What can the EU level offer? What can be learnt from successful examples of cooperation? This session will try to unlock some of the potential of multi-level governance. Examples from the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) joined-up governance project and Region of Hessen in Germany will be presented.

Participants: Prospex (Martin Watson), Committee of Regions (Céline Château), Land of Hessen (Layla Bahmad)

Workshop 3 Cities reflecting diversity (ImpleMentoring)

What strategies are cities implementing to ensure that their workforce reflects diversity in their population? What effect does this have in increasing access to quality services for migrants and other city residents?
This city will look at tools implemented to increase diversity in municipal staff and services and the rewards that can result from such strategies.

Participants: Helsinki (Ritva Viljanen), Copenhagen (Lise Bayer), Manchester (Shefali Kapoor), Oslo (Toralv Moe), Congress of Regional and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe (Deirdre McGowan)

Workshop 4 Cities and Human Rights a path worth travelling

This session will look at examples from the SHARE project on refugee resettlement and cities building a resettlement movement in Europe. Participants will be asked to share experiences on city branding on human rights and how resettlement can become part of the local agenda of rights protection in Europe.

Participants: ICMC (Petra Hueck, Rachel Westerby)

Workshop 5 Cities: the integration of migrants and co-development practices

The role of local authorities in development has risen on the EU and global agenda. The UN High-Level dialogue on Migration and Development taking place in October will look, among other things, how cities can act as agents of development. This session will look at examples of cities engaged in co-developments, the rewards they have achieved with regards to migrant integration and what opportunities there are for engaging in this field.

Participants: Joint Migration and Development Initiative-JMDI, United Nations Development Programme (Cécile Riallant), Milan (Caterina Sarfati)

Workshop 6 Global meets local –the international drive for local standards on migration integration

The Integrating Cities model and Charter are gaining ground in Europe and beyond. The city of Toronto will be adapting the Charter for adoption. Japanese cities have a similar network on migrant integration and started to learn from European experiences. This session will look at how standards and practices can be transferred not only across Europe but beyond.

Participants: Toronto (Chris Billinger, Lydia Fitchko), Meiji University (Pr. Keizo Yamawaki), Maytree Foundation (Ratna Omidvar)

Workshop 7 Network cooperation on migrant integration

City networks working on migrant integration will develop concrete recommendations for collaboration. They will share tools and future plans in hopes of building synergies to avoid duplication.

Participants: Council of Europe Intercultural Cities (Irina Guidikova), European Coalition Cities Against Racism (Jean-Paul Makengo – Toulouse), Co-Fra-Cir (Pernelle Richardot – Strasbourg), Urbact (Sally Kneeshaw), Cities of Migration (Ratna Omidvar), EUROCITIES Migration & Integration working group (Anu Riila)

Workshop 8 Migrant participation and local democracy (ImpleMentoring)

Preliminary findings of ImpleMentoring project visits on participation in diverse neighbourhoods and political participation of migrants.

Participants: Tampere Migrant Council, Oslo Migrant Council

Workshop 9 Changing perceptions of migration and diversity (ImpleMentoring)

Many cities are promoting the potential of migrants as citizens and welcoming the opportunities diversity offers. Others are addressing racism and fighting xenophobia and its local expressions. This session will offer a platform to share these examples and experiences, looking at ways that cities can tackle such challenges and enhance public perception of migration and diversity.

Participants: Barcelona (Ramon Sanahuja Velez), COMPAS / Oxford University (Sarah Spencer), Genoa (Danilo Parodi), Migration Work (Sue Lukes)

Workshop 10 NGOs and cities working together for integration of migrants

NGOs and integration of recently recognized refugees and new migrants.

Participants: Caritas Belgium (Ariane Dewandre), Foyer (Ann Trappers)

Workshop 11 Door to door social inclusion in a multi-ethnic priority district

Can social inclusion of people dependent on social welfare benefits be stimulated by a door-to-door approach? Pilot project in The Hague.

Participants: The Hague, Trimbos Institute (Milou Haggenburg)

Workshop 12 EU mobility: the changing face of migrant integration in Europe

Free movement of EU citizens has changed the landscape of migrant integration in European cities. This wave of migration has had a fundamental impact in adding a level of complexity in the way large cities address inclusion, given that EU citizens enjoy a different set of rights and entitlements than traditional immigrant groups.
This session will offer cities a chance to exchange their experience in receiving (or sending) EU migrants and the tools being developed to adequately address this new situation and demographic change for European cities.

Participants: Migration Policy Institute (Meghan Benton), Govanhill Community Development Trust (David Zabiega – Glasgow)