The Conference is the final dissemination event of the H2020 Whole-COMM project, 'Exploring the Integration of post-2014 Migrants from a Whole-of-Community Perspective', coordinated by the Collegio Carlo Alberto in Turin (www.whole-comm.eu). The Conference will aim to connect researchers and policymakers operating at different governance levels who have an interest in strengthening inclusive responses to migrant integration in small localities. The Conference will also promote the key policy-oriented tools elaborated by the project, and more specifically: 1) the final Whole-COMM Policy Brief, targeting national and European policymakers, which elaborates the main policy recommendations of the project; 2) the Whole-COMM Policy Toolbox for effective migrant and refugee integration in small localities, conceived as a tool to assess and monitor existing local integration policies; and 3) the Whole-COMM Strategy Paper which aims to offer local policymakers possible strategies and ways forward for European rural areas willing to foster immigrant integration and trigger innovative policy solutions.
The Conference will also represent an opportunity to exchange with representatives of other H2020 funded projects WELCOMING SPACES, RE-ROOT and MATILDE which are also analysing migrant integration dynamics in small towns and rural areas from different perspectives, and learn about key findings of such projects.
The European Committee of the Regions through its Cities and Regions for Integration of Migrants Initiative has been in close contact with the Whole-COMM project for the organisation of this event as it will provide valuable policy insights for local and regional authorities to build diverse and inclusive communities. Additionally, the Cities and Regions for Integration of Migrants Initiative was already involved in the Building Bridges workshop organised by Whole-COMM and the Migration Policy Group that gathered local stakeholders, researchers, and international actors to discuss recommendations for the integration of migrants in small and medium-sized towns, as well as rural areas.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101004714