The benefits of intercultural inclusion in cities

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Diversity management at the city level: the benefits of intercultural integration

Summary

Cities in Europe act as vital hubs for intercultural exchange, providing a home to residents from many different communities. Yet these places can also foster inequality and discrimination, due to entrenched segregation. In a Friends of Europe and Anna Lindh Foundation policy debate on diversity management, held online on 29 October 2020, experts from several public and private institutions explored ways to break down these barriers, both physical and societal.

Urbanisation and diversity management are highly topical, underpinning the core operation of our societies. But they’re often also linked to instability in the world, as well as to migration and refugees. It is particularly interesting to look at the role cities have in this regard. They offer unique intercultural opportunities and can provide lessons for promoting diversity and better integration, particularly in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Structural, inclusive and sustainable policies are key for social cohesion
05:14 – “Our recent survey of Euro-Med cities and their practices for integrating migrants revealed that structural, inclusive and sustainable policies are key for social cohesion,” said Katharina Bamberg, Migration Policy Advisor at EUROCITIES. Bamberg highlighted four best practices applicable to all cities:

  • Develop structural and sustainable integration policies (citizens feel truly part of a city)
  • Mainstream integration across different policy areas (boosting social cohesion)
  • Focus on migrants’ specific integration needs (e.g. tailored services for children and women)
  • Communicate widely on inclusiveness and equal opportunities (e.g. intercultural events)

The key issue is trust
15:00 – “Intercultural integration is a structural process and now a comprehensive policy concept with a set of indicators to measure progress,” remarked Irena Guidikova, Head of Division for Cultural Policy, Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue at the Council of Europe.

She added that intercultural integration – which creates the conditions for accepting migration and enjoying its benefits – has been embraced by 140 cities. It has become a pan-European standard since 2015, and is being adapted for national and multi-level governments.

Moreover, Guidikova called for more community exchanges within cities, as this builds trust and a sense of belonging. Interaction should be society-wide and stand at the core of intercultural integration in education, employment and public spaces. While schools are not a panacea for society’s integration and diversity challenges, there is ample evidence these institutions play a positive role through mixing and desegregation of different communities.

Intercultural dialogue is part of the solution
34:20 – “Intercultural dialogue – which is ALF’s mandate – isn’t a luxury, even mid-pandemic. It’s also part of the solution to the pressing issues faced by society, a tool for sustainability, and can empower civil society,” said Eleonora Insalaco, Head of Operations at the Anna Lindh Foundation.

She pointed to recent scientific research done by the ALF, mapping trends north and south of the Mediterranean in intercultural relations and working with civil society. Most respondents, whatever their country or origin, see cultural diversity as being key to society’s economic prosperity. Education was also considered a common key priority.

Insalaco added that it was important to prevent societal conflict and radicalisation by working through dialogue in education programmes and youth initiatives. Municipalities can promote intercultural integration by supporting civil society, artists and educators. Multicultural and artistic events can also help, by encouraging further interaction – which is often in public spaces and increasingly on the Internet.

52:12 – “Sustainability and resilience are key to reducing disparities and providing access to equal opportunities and non-discrimination,” noted Wallis Goelen-Vandebrock, Senior Expert to the Deputy Director-General for Implementation at the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

She added that Cohesion Policy is the EU’s biggest framework for supporting local and regional authorities, for instance by establishing sustainable development strategies adapted to their social inclusion needs. 5% of the European Regional Development Fund is earmarked for sustainable urban development – such as investment in social cohesion projects addressing inequality or fostering inclusion/integration of migrants, people with disabilities and people from marginalised communities.

Goelen-Vandebrock also highlighted how Cohesion Funds are used in projects to regenerate deprived urban areas, resulting in better access to services, schools and housing. She concluded that inclusive education is an EU priority, as demonstrated by the €7bn invested in the sector. In its 2021-27 budget, the EU will seek to reinforce Cohesion Policy measures to better tackle educational and spatial segregation.

Audience members highlighted their concerns and suggestions, such as the need to boost human interaction in cities through more engagement with host societies; getting migrants more involved in local decision-making; and including younger generations in the diversity and integration agenda.

About

About

Our cities have become crossroads between cultures, like never before. Despite a decrease due to COVID-19, short-term travel and permanent migration over recent years has meant that urban areas are hubs for a variety of customs and beliefs. Yet, for many urban residents, the temptation to remain within familiar environments is too strong.

The benefits of setting foot outside our bubbles are clear: intercultural exchange within cities helps foster closer collaboration between communities, and promotes the values of equality and inclusion to young ones. Vibrant cities that have acted on encouraging community exchange have benefited from a drop in crime and a rise in tourism. Euro-Med cities are rife with intercultural potential, how could they build on this?


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Diversity management at the city level: the benefits of intercultural inclusion in cities
Expand Diversity management at the city level: the benefits of intercultural inclusion in cities

Our cities have become crossroads between cultures, like never before. Despite a decrease due to COVID-19, short-term travel and permanent migration over recent years has meant that urban areas are hubs for a variety of customs and beliefs. Yet, for many urban residents, the temptation to remain within familiar environments is too strong.

The benefits of setting foot outside our bubbles are clear: intercultural exchange within cities helps foster closer collaboration between communities, and promotes the values of equality and inclusion to young ones. Vibrant cities that have acted on encouraging community exchange have benefited from a drop in crime and a rise in tourism. Euro-Med cities are rife with intercultural potential, how could they build on this?

  • Could schools be the answer to unlocking community exchange?
  • What policies and best practices would lead to social cohesion within Euro-Med cities?
  • How can urban areas regain their attraction as cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, rather than the drawbacks of segregated communities?

Speakers

Katharina Bamberg

Migration Policy Advisor at EUROCITIES

Irena Guidikova

Head of Division of the Inclusion and Anti-discrimination programmes at the Council of Europe

Eleonora Insalaco

Head of Operations and Intercultural Research at the Anna Lindh Foundation

Normunds Popens

European Commission Deputy Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy

Moderator

Dharmendra Kanani

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Spokesperson of Friends of Europe

End of debate
Speakers

Speakers

Katharina Bamberg
Katharina Bamberg

Migration Policy Advisor at EUROCITIES

Show more information on Katharina Bamberg

Prior to her current position at EUROCITIES, Katharina Bamberg worked as a policy analyst in the European Migration and Diversity Programme at the European Policy Centre (EPC). In particular, she is specialised in strategic communication on migration, the EU’s migration policies in relation with third countries and resettlement. Bamberg also worked for the Odysseus Academic Network for Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, based at the Université Libre Bruxelles, on issues related to the legal aspects of reforming the Common European Asylum System.

Irena Guidikova
Irena Guidikova

Head of Division of the Inclusion and Anti-discrimination programmes at the Council of Europe

Show more information on Irena Guidikova

With over 25 years of experience at the Council of Europe, Irena Guidikova is a leading expert on youth and cultural policy, participatory democracy, diversity and intercultural integration. In her current position, she specialises on the strengthening of equality and the fight against discrimination through bilateral and multilateral co-operation programmes with public institutions and civil society organisations. Guidikova is also the Founder of the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities programme aimed at supporting local strategies for migrant and minority inclusion.

Eleonora Insalaco
Eleonora Insalaco

Head of Operations and Intercultural Research at the Anna Lindh Foundation

Show more information on Eleonora Insalaco

In addition to her current role, Eleonora Insalaco also heads intercultural research at the Anna Lindh Foundation. She is the editor of three consecutive editions of the Anna Lindh Report on Intercultural Trends in the EuroMed region (2010, 2014, 2017) and of the Anna Lindh Handbook of Intercultural Citizenship Education in the EuroMed region. In her research, Insalaco focuses on Islamic Studies and Euro-Med relations in the fields of education, research, youth, civil society, cultural and media.

Normunds Popens
Normunds Popens

European Commission Deputy Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy

Show more information on Normunds Popens

Early on in his career, Normunds Popens joined the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served as Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations as well as the Director of the EU Department and Undersecretary of State for EU Affairs. He also represented Latvia in its embassies in the USA, as Ambassador in Norway and Iceland, and at the Latvian Representation to the EU. In his current position, Popens is responsible for the implementation of policies in the realm of regional and urban policies ranging from sustainable development to European territorial cooperation.

Dharmendra Kanani
Dharmendra Kanani

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Spokesperson of Friends of Europe

Show more information on Dharmendra Kanani

Prior to joining Friends of Europe, Dharmendra Kanani was director of policy at the European Foundation Centre (EFC). He was the England director at the Big Lottery Fund, the largest independent funder in the UK and fourth largest in the world. Dharmendra has held senior positions in the public and voluntary sectors and advisor to numerous ministerial policy initiatives across the UK.

Partners

Partners

THIS ACTIVITY IS ORGANISED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANNA LINDH FOUNDATION

CO-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

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