Municipal Integration and Development Initiative

Many of today's most pressing social issues are transnational in nature: climate change, the corona pandemic, and migration and refugee movements do not stop at national borders. In addition, there is a growing mistrust in the problem-solving capacity of democracy and the European Union. Creative, democratic, sustainable and effective approaches are needed to find answers to challenges such as increasing economic and social inequality, migration and refugee policies that violate fundamental rights, and the question of how to shape the ecological transformation in a just way. Municipalities can play an important part in addressing these challenges. They are directly confronted with the effects of global challenges and must develop sustainable solutions for them.

During the project, complementary governance concepts were developed, which are currently being implemented and tested in further projects.

DURATION

2018 – 2022

TEAM

Giulia Fellin, Alina Lyapina, Johannes Krabbe

FUNDERS

Schöpflin Foundation

On a map of Europe, tokens are placed on which "Municipal Development" can be read. The Berlin Governance Platform's Municipal Integration and Development Initiative in the Migration Sector project has developed several concepts and projects in this area.

Direct municipal reception and integration of refugees in Europe

While the European Union and nation states are unable or unwilling to find solutions to the crisis-ridden European migration and asylum policy , in recent years more and more European cities and municipalities have declared their willingness to proactively take in those seeking protection. These progressive municipalities stand for a Europe of solidarity that respects human rights and takes responsibility for the protection of human lives. These municipalities can contribute an important part to the solution for the migration challenges. We propose a governance concept that relies on the direct relocation of refugees from Europe's external borders to European municipalities that are ready to receive them. An algorithm-based matching process can play a central role in this process, in order to match the needs of those seeking protection with the offers of the municipalities willing to receive them and to bring them into the best possible agreement.

This idea gave rise to the pilot project Re:Match for the needs-oriented and individualized admission of refugees via matching.

 

Municipal Development Councils

In order to organize the voluntary reception of refugees in a sustainable manner and to place it on a broad basis, development advisory councils consisting of political, economic and civil society representatives should be formed in the municipalities to advise on the orientation and design of future policies and to prepare their implementation. They are based on the principle that inclusive, sustainable development works best when all relevant stakeholder groups are involved. This is the place to think together about the demographic development of the community: about needs and possible offers in the economy and in terms of workforce and its training, about the development of the necessary infrastructure, about education and further training, about offers of housing, about perspectives for cultural development and social integration of all citizens of the place. After all, in a pluralistic democratic society, integration is fundamentally a permanent general-societal challenge and task, not only in connection with refugees, but also with regard to all marginalized persons.

The format of the municipal development councils has now been implemented in several model projects.

 

The European Integration and Development Fund

Municipalities can decide to take in refugees on the basis of their demographic, but also economic and cultural development. They receive an additional incentive for this if they are reimbursed for the costs of integration in this regard by a European Integration and Development Fund and additionally receive financial resources for their own development in the same amount. As an additional incentive, they should also receive funds in the same amount for their own municipal development. The municipalities, which take on more responsibility, would thus have the financial means to do so. In addition, the cities and municipalities would experience a revitalization not only economically, but also culturally , since, for example, funds would be available for cultural projects. In many European regions from which people are migrating, this would also trigger a positive dynamic. Instead of fearing the loss of nation-state sovereignty and competence, the member states could accept the voluntary offer of the cities and municipalities as a possible way out of the reform blockade .

To European integration and development fund concept we published a legal opinion and held several panels.

 

Europe urgently needs a medium- and long-term strategy that does not see the reception of protection seekers as a threat, but protects fundamental rights. A decentralized and participatory approach of networked communities in asylum and refugee policy could give the EU the impetus for a positive new beginning by not perceiving the reception of refugees as a burden, but using their integration as an impetus for sustainable development .

Publications

A screenshot of the front page of the publication "Integration of refugees as part of joint municipal development". The joint, participatory shaping of municipal development is essential in order to find satisfactory and fair solutions at local level to the complex challenges posed by globalisation. Cities and municipalities play a central role in migration and integration policy in particular. On the one hand, because they carry out the lion's share of integration work locally and, on the other, because they are committed to guaranteeing fundamental and human rights. The voluntary reception and integration of refugees offers the opportunity to shape the development of the municipality in an inclusive, safe, sustainable and participatory manner. This concept introduces the multi-stakeholder advisory councils for the reception and integration of refugees.
A screenshot of the front page of the publication "Options for action to strengthen municipalities in the reception of refugees and immigration policy". By repeatedly declaring their willingness to take in refugees, European cities and municipalities are demonstrating that a commitment to human rights is a cross-cutting task at all political levels and therefore also part of municipal policy. The willingness of municipalities to take in asylum seekers should not jeopardise the individual right to a fair and thorough state asylum procedure, but rather represent an offer of a solution in the central conflict over the European distribution of asylum seekers. In the following, we propose two realisable options for action in each of three central municipal fields of action.

More projects

  • Logo and a municipality from the Berlin Governance Platform's Re:Match pilot project in four colours. The individual pieces of the symbol match with the others to create a matching whole.

    Re:Match - needs-based and individualised relocation of protection seekers via algorithm-based matching

    Re:Match is piloting a needs-based and individualised relocation of people seeking protection via algorithm-based matching in municipalities ready to accept them as an innovative contribution to a human rights-based European migration policy.
  • This header image shows a symbol for networking in the colours of the Berlin Governance Platform over a picture of a municipality. The project for this is in the area of migration and is called Networks for a Welcoming Europe.

    Networks for a Welcoming Europe

    In a map, actors and networks in the field of migration in Europe were identified and networked, and strategic partnerships were established.
  • Photo of participants in the trialogue "Nutrition, health and social cohesion"

    Trialogue series Social Cohesion

    As part of BUA's "Grand Challenge Social Cohesion" initiative, the three- part trialogue series "Social Cohesion" was held in late summer and fall 2022. The focus was on the transdisciplinary exchange of 6 Exploration Projects [...]
  • A municipal development advisory board accompanies the urban development of the city of Duisburg

    Municipal Development Council in Duisburg

    Duisburg-Hochfeld, once characterised by heavy industry, is a prototype for areas in the Ruhr region affected by structural change. A municipal development advisory board is discussing ways to improve the quality of life for residents in the neighbourhood [...].
  • A municipal development advisory board supports the development of climate protection measures in Meinersen

    Municipal Development Council in Samtgemeinde Meinersen

    A municipal development council plays a key role in shaping climate protection measures in the Meinersen joint municipality in Lower Saxony. The aim of this participation framework is to make the development process transparent, to ensure the legitimacy of the [...]
  • In Cottbus, a municipal development advisory board is supporting the redesign of the historic city centre promenade

    Municipal Development Council in Cottbus/Chóśebuz

    There is a prominent brownfield site in the centre of Cottbus that was recently acquired by the city. A municipal development advisory board brings together various stakeholders to make recommendations for the future use of this [...]
  • A municipal development advisory board in Herne developed recommendations for the design of a city centre brownfield site

    Municipal Development Council in Herne

    In 2022, a municipal development advisory board developed recommendations for the design of a 25-hectare industrial brownfield site in the centre of the city of Herne.
  • A municipal development advisory board accompanies urban development in Weißwasser/O.L.

    Municipal Development Council in Weißwasser/O.L.

    The city of Weißwasser is facing major changes over the next few years: the centralised supply of lignite will come to an end from 2029. A municipal development council is currently discussing how [...]
  • In Hoyerswerda, a municipal development advisory board advises on the utilisation of green spaces and demolition sites

    Municipal Development Council in Hoyerswerda

    In Hoyerswerda, a municipal development council is discussing the utilisation of urban green spaces and demolition sites. The aim is to create a "green fringe".
  • In Arneburg-Goldbeck, a municipal development council advises on the development of the municipality

    Municipal Development Council in Arneburg-Goldbeck

    In Arneburg-Goldbeck, a municipal development advisory board was to draw up recommendations for improving mobility in rural areas.
  • A municipal development advisory board accompanies urban development in Rottenburg am Neckar

    Municipal Development Council in Rottenburg am Neckar

    A municipal development advisory board in Rottenburg am Necker discussed possibilities for urban development in times of crisis.
  • In Niesky, a municipal development advisory board is discussing the town's economic future.

    Municipal Development Council in Niesky

    In Niesky, a municipal development council discussed the economic future of the town.
  • A municipal development advisory board supports the municipality of Kalletal

    Municipal Development Council in Kalletal

    In Kalletal, a municipal development advisory board drew up recommendations for improving municipal healthcare provision.
  • A municipal development advisory board accompanies urban development in Frankfurt (Oder)

    Municipal Development Council in Frankfurt (Oder)

    In Frankfurt (Oder), a municipal development advisory board was set up to promote modern and environmentally friendly neighbourhood and city centre development.
  • Accommodation for refugees in Berlin

    How can refugees find adequate and affordable housing in Berlin? In the midst of a tight housing market and numerous barriers to access, we are developing ideas for possible solutions with policymakers, civil society and the real estate industry.
  • Logo of the CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) with the symbol of a pair of scales.

    CERV project Cities4Refugees

    Cities4Refugees" involves mayors and their municipalities, but also non-governmental organisations and other multipliers who are working to improve the current situation for migrants and refugees who come to Europe but [...].
  • On a map of Europe, tokens are placed on which "Municipal Development" can be read. The Berlin Governance Platform's Municipal Integration and Development Initiative in the Migration Sector project has developed several concepts and projects in this area.

    Municipal integration and development initiative

    The Municipal Integration and Development Initiative (MIDI) starts at the local level and develops governance concepts in which municipalities play a central role. A joint, participatory organisation of municipal development [...]
  • The logo and lettering of the migration project From the Sea to the City (FSTC) in colour. Part of the logo symbolises waves.

    From the Sea to the City

    From The Sea To The City (FSTC) is a European civil society network consisting of several NGOs and grassroots political initiatives. Together, we campaign in the European public sphere with the help of innovative [...]
  • Logo European Integration and Development Fund for Local Authorities

    The European Integration and Development Fund

    Municipalities that agree to take in people seeking protection should be incentivised financially. To this end, we propose the establishment of an EU fund to which municipalities can apply directly for financial resources [...]