The OECD and the European Commission have published a series of case studies to take a closer look at how ten European cities have been working on migrant integration.

The cases studies that have been published so far are of interest to the Digital Welcome project as they concerns some of the areas where the project has been implementing, namely Berlin, Greece and Barcelona. Rome is also forthcoming.

The case studies accompany the April 2018 joint report by the OECD and the European Commission that describes what it takes to formulate a place-based approach to integration. The joint report includes a 12-point checklist that any city or region can use in its efforts to promote more effective integration of migrants.

The 12 key points for policy-makers and practitioners to consider as they develop and implement local integration programmes are:

  1. Enhance effectiveness of migrant integration policy through improved vertical coordination across government levels and implementation at the relevant scale
  2. Seek policy coherence in addressing migrants’ multi-dimensional needs of, and opportunities for, integration at the local level
  3. Access and effectively use financial resources that are adapted to local responsibilities for migrant integration
  4. Design integration policies that take time into account throughout migrants’ lifetimes and residence status evolution
  5. Create spaces where interaction brings migrants and the native population closer together
  6. Increase capacity and diversity in civil services, with a view to ensuring access to mainstream services for migrants and newcomers
  7. Strengthen cooperation with non-state stakeholders, including through transparent and effective contracts
  8. Intensify the assessment of integration results for migrants and host communities and their use for evidence-based policies
  9. Match migrants’ skills with economic and job opportunities
  10. Secure access to adequate housing
  11. Provide social welfare measures that are aligned with migrant inclusion
  12. Establish education responses to address segregation and provide equitable paths to professional growth

It is worth having a look at the case studies from Athens, Barcelona and Berlin!