All Things Urban

The conference is part of a series of policy events underpinning the Eurocities Integrating Cities process which started in 2006. Eurocities actively engages with the European Commission in establishing a strong policy dialogue to enable the city level, which is key for developing integration strategies for migrants, to feed into the European level. The importance of involving cities in the implementation of the European agenda for integration cannot be overstated and the conferences are an excellent opportunity to highlight this fact. Objectives The conference aims to enable city authorities to exchange experiences and discuss the most efficient practices and strategies for the inclusion and meaningful participation of migrants at the local level. Cities will share their best practices in integrating migrant communities and discuss local and European-level perspectives for the future of integration and inclusion. The event will offer various opportunities for dialogue between local politicians and senior officials from Europe’s major cities, representatives from EU institutions, international and non-governmental organisations, academics, and migrant communities. This year’s conference is organised in the framework of the project ‘UNITES – UrbaN InTEgration Strategies through co-design’, co-funded by the European Commission’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and focuses on “Shaping our cities with migrant and local communities”.

This event is targeted at local politicians, senior officials from Europe's major cities, representatives from EU institutions, international and non-governmental organizations, academics, and migrant communities.

Eurocities is the network of more than 200 cities in 38 countries, representing 130 million people, working together to ensure a good quality of life for all. You greet your neighbour as you leave home on your way to do work that is meaningful and decently paid. The air is clean and free of honking car horns. Using the free public wifi, you see that today the public square is a local artisans’ and farmers’ market. Your phone polls you on a few quick ideas that the local administration wants to try. You truly feel like you are a part of the city, and, as such, a part of Europe. This is the future that European cities have been working to build through Eurocities since 1986. We help cities inspire each other. When a crisis hits, the urgency of local coordination and information sharing is starkly obvious – but with longer-burning issues like climate change, social equality and a vibrant economy this ‘glocal’ approach is no less essential. That’s why we work with over 200 of Europe’s largest cities to improve the lives of over 130 million residents across 38 countries. That’s the ‘cities’ part of ‘Eurocities’. Hundreds of cities have already committed to getting carbon emissions down to zero, welcoming migrants and refugees, and governing through dialogue with their residents. Local governments work on the ground with citizens and residents, and are essential partners for turning EU policies and ambitions into reality. As such, cities must be included directly in European decision making and should be in direct receipt of European funds. That’s the ‘Euro’ part of ‘Eurocities.’ So Eurocities, Europe plus cities, equals a better future for all.