Local and regional authorities

Local communities are the places where integration happens. They offer great opportunities for migrants and non-migrants to interact, be it through working, studying or raising their families. But local communities also face challenges regarding integration and inclusion. The EU works very closely with local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of integration policies and supports them through funding.

The Urban Agenda Partnership

The Partnership brings to the same table cities, national governments, the European Commission and civil society organisations to discuss and put in place concrete actions to improve migrants’ integration in the EU. It was launched in 2016 under the umbrella of the Urban Agenda for the EU and will last until the end of 2019. Among the main results of the partnership are:

the creation of the European Migrant Advisory Board, a self-led group of advisors with immigrant and refugee-backgrounds, providing advice on integration matters

the creation of the Urban Academy on Integration, a training programme on integration for policymakers from cities and regions

Funding

Several EU funds support local and regional authorities in their integration activities, such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). All funding opportunities can be found on EWSI here.

Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union. It represents local and regional authorities across the EU and advises on new laws that have an impact on regions and cities. In 2019, the Committee of the Regions launched the initiative Cities and Regions for Integration to promote exchanges between local and regional authorities working on integration.

Those who are working in cities and are looking for specific information on studies, projects and funding opportunities can also visit the Commission's webpage Inclusion of migrants and refugees in cities.

The Urban Agenda Partnership

The Partnership brings to the same table cities, national governments, the European Commission and civil society organisations to discuss and put in place concrete actions to improve migrants’ integration in the EU. It was launched in 2016 under the umbrella of the Urban Agenda for the EU and will last until the end of 2019. Among the main results of the partnership are:

the creation of the European Migrant Advisory Board, a self-led group of advisors with immigrant and refugee-backgrounds, providing advice on integration matters

the creation of the Urban Academy on Integration, a training programme on integration for policymakers from cities and regions

Funding

Several EU funds support local and regional authorities in their integration activities, such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). All funding opportunities can be found on EWSI here.

Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union. It represents local and regional authorities across the EU and advises on new laws that have an impact on regions and cities. In 2019, the Committee of the Regions launched the initiative Cities and Regions for Integration to promote exchanges between local and regional authorities working on integration.

Those who are working in cities and are looking for specific information on studies, projects and funding opportunities can also visit the Commission's webpage Inclusion of migrants and refugees in cities.