Impact Cities

Impact Cities is a project consortium comprising the European cities of Berlin, Villeurbanne, Lyon, Munich, Athens, Utrecht and Zagreb – all of which are committed to solidarity – the French city alliance ANVITA, the civil society network From the Sea to the City, and the NGOs Berlin Governance Platform and Inter Alia. As with the previous project Cities4Refugees The two-year Impact Cities project also aims to facilitate strategic networking, the exchange of best practice and cooperation between European local authorities and civil society in the field of EU migration and integration policy.

"Impact Cities“ began in April 2026 and involves a series of in-person and online events over a total period of 12 months. The project strengthens the role of local authorities and civil society organisations in European migration and asylum policy, whilst building on the city network established in 2021 International Alliance of Safe Harbours (IASH) takes centre stage: the aim is to attract new local authorities, expand the exchange of knowledge between local authorities and civil society, and strengthen the network’s political work. In addition, the close partnership with the civil society network From the Sea to the City (FS2C) is continuing. Through workshops, on-site visits and policy dialogues, the project supports local authorities in actively shaping the implementation of the reformed Common European Asylum System (CEAS) – to ensure better reception conditions, robust integration programmes and a strong local voice in European refugee and migration policy.

As part of the project consortium, the Berlin Governance Platform is responsible for both organising the event and providing strategic advice to the municipal partners.

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ACTIVITIES

1. Kick-off meeting: The impact of GEAS on cities in EU countries with external borders

   To mark the launch of the project, the Impact Cities partners met in Athens for two days with Greek local government and civil society representatives to discuss the impact of the EU Pact, particularly on local authorities near the EU’s external border. The panel discussions focused on tensions between centralised and national migration management and local integration work, examples of good municipal practice, and the increasing criminalisation of civil society organisations working in solidarity. 

   Host: Inter Alia

2. Digital public kick-off meeting: Cities and civil society in the implementation of the GEAS

   The GEAS reform officially came into force on 12 June 2026. We must now work together to prepare for its implications. Together with Charlotte Labrosse (ECRE), Anna Gruber (Collective Aid) and Niels Tubbing (City of Amsterdam), we discussed which warning signs are already becoming apparent, what tools we have at our disposal for effective monitoring, and how cities and civil society can now work together to support refugees. 

   Host: Berlin Governance Platform & Inter Alia

3. On-site visit to Zagreb: Local initiatives in a transit country
4. Webinar: Exchange of best practice on supporting people without legal residence status
5. Site visit to Lyon/Villeurbanne and peer exchange: Local authority best practices
6. Webinar: Learning from experience – accessing EU funding for local migration work
7. Conference: Cities and the solidarity mechanism – Monitoring of relocations and financial contributions
8. Webinar: The role of cities in implementing the EU Solidarity Mechanism
9. Exchange and Engagement Mission to Brussels The impact of the pact and the pledges of solidarity
10. Closing conference: Maintain the highest possible standards in the implementation of GEAS