Successful Inclusion of migrants and refugees in European Cities

While EU leaders struggle to reach an adequate deal on a coordinated responses to migration, cities, local government and relevant stakeholders like providers of affordable housing in many countries are already offering solutions towards the inclusion and integration of migrants and refugees. The European Commission Action Plan on Integration of Third Country Nationals highlights “access to adequate and affordable housing is crucial”, and successful projects from across Europe show that equally important is to build a sense of community and put in place support, in cooperation with a range of stakeholders: from employment and skills training to advice and care provision.

Designing Inclusion is a collaborative project co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus + programme - addressing the interface between architecture, urban design, urban planning education and the production of inclusive urban spaces for refugees and forced migrants. The project has co-produced knowledge about existing practices of civil society organisations – including housing providers - in the reception of migrants and refugees in local urban areas, ongoing challenges and instances of innovation.

Designing Inclusion closing transnational seminar will present the intellectual outputs realised by the project over the past 2 years. Through interactive discussion with representatives of institutions, civil society organisations, housing providers, networks and academics, this event aims at addressing some key questions. What is the evidence from the ground? How to build knowledge and practice on inclusion of migrants and refugees? How can inclusion at local level effectively be supported by the EU? 

Registration is obligatory to enter the European Parliament. Please register by October 11th. 

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Event Agenda

The role of the EU in supporting inclusion

14:00 - 14:10 Welcome speech MEP Brando Benifei rapporteur EP report, Refugees: social inclusion and integration into the labour market.

14:10 - 14:25 Antoine Savary, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission, Financing of integration through housing.

14:25 - 14:40 The way forward: policy recommendations , Cédric Van Styvendael, Housing Europe President

14:40 - 16:00 Panel session | Bridging knowledge and practice: insights from housing providers and research

Moderator: Abderrahim Khairi, Housing Europe

14:40 - 14:55 Designing Inclusion Project: key outputs, Viviana d'Auria

14:55 – 15:30 Short project presentations: Startblok Riekerhaven (Amsterdam), Fleur Eymann;  Gewobag (Berlin), Ms. Martina Heger; SozialBau ​AG (Vienna), Herbert Ludl; DAR=CASA Società Cooperativa (Milano), Sara Travaglini. 

15:30 – 15:40 Reaction from Aliyyah Ahad, Migration Policy Institute 

15:40 – 16:00 Q&A with panellists

 Concluding remarks, Alice Pittini, Housing Europe

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The conference is organised by Housing Europe and hosted by MEP Brando Benifei (S & D, Italy), Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Report 'Refugees: social inclusion and integration into the labour market'.

Click here to see meeting point at the Parliament, please be there by no later than 13:30.