Interreg Response to Migration Challenges
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P. 24 P. 05 INTRODUCTION PLURALPS Throughout 2020, we celebrated 30 years of Interreg and cooperation in all Therefore, medium to long-term integration needs are to be supported through Enhancing Capacities for a Pluralistic Alpine Space its shapes. As the second pillar of the Cohesion policy, European Territorial the European Social Fund+ and the European Regional Development Fund Cooperation is at the heart of the European spirit because it encourages regions – also throughout Interreg Programmes – by means of actions focussing on INDEX P. 06 P. 26 ARC vocational training, education, housing, just to mention a few. Active Refugees in the Community REGI and countries to tackle challenges they can solve only by working together. Reacting to Growing Immigration Several activities throughout 2020 provided the opportunity to demonstrate the It becomes clear that partnership and cooperation with our neighbours and P. 08 achievements so far, but also the chance to focus on the future of cooperation third countries plays a key role, being an essential component of the European ARRIVAL REGIONS P. 28 SEE ME IN policy beyond 2020 as we enter a crucial phase to shape the future of the Union’s migration and asylum policy. programming period. P. 10 BEGIN The present publication follows the desk research analysis that Interact Boost Environmental Guardianship for Inclusion P. 30 SlforREF It is time to rethink and breathe new life into what we consider a fundamental published in June 2016 and November 2019 in the framework of its Thematic Integrating Refugees in Society and the Labour Market Through value in the European Union: cooperation between people, regions and countries 1 Social Innovation Network “Interreg response to migration-related challenges” . P. 12 close to us. DRIM The aim of this publication is to offer an overview and evidence of Interreg Danube Region Information Platform for Economic Integration of P. 32 Migrants SIREE At a time when the European Union is facing a lot of changes, when political Social Integration of Refugees through Education and Self contribution to migration-related challenges through the stories of 18 symbolic Employment dialogue often questions its function, when new European leaders and new and outstanding projects financed by Interreg. P. 14 EUMINT priorities are emerging, Interreg has been acting for 30 years to leave no one Euroregions, Migration and Integration P. 34 TELL ME ABOUT IT behind and to build Europe brick by brick. No. of projects financed over the last three programming periods. Following the refugee crisis of 2015 and 2016, the EU financial support provided 2000 - 2006 P. 16 2007 - 2013 2014 - 2020 FEM to member states under pressure proved to be essential. It ensured an effective Interreg A 9 22 11 Female Estonian Migrant P. 36 URBAN DIVERSITY EU response by developing search and rescue capacities, increasing reception 8 4 7 capacity and step up returns. Interreg B P. 18 MINPLUS P. 38 WOHEALTH In this regard, the EU has allocated for the management of migration and asylum Interreg C 4 4 0 Empowering Immigrant Women in Supporting Their Family’s Health and Wellbeing – under the Asylum and Migration Fund – a budget of EUR 11.3 billion for the IPA CBC 4 2 0 P. 20 MINTEGRATION next programming period, compared to EUR 7.3 billion for the current 2014-2020. Migration and Integration in the Bavarian-Czech Border Region ENPI CBC 2 2 0 P. 40 YOUMIG The Asylum and Migration Fund, as in the past, supports the very early integration Youth Migration Total 27 34 18 P. 22 PAIONAS of migrants and asylum applicants. But it is well known – not only by academia but especially by practitioners – that integration is a long-term process. P. 42 CREDITS & https://www.interact-eu.net/networks#2584-Migration ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Total ARC EUROPEAN UNION Active Refugees in the Community “The Urban Farmer Area Certificate was a huge • Finland - Pirkanmaa motivational factor for • Sweden - Östra Mellansverige immigrants to take part Budget in the project activities.” Total Budget: 169 956 € Project webpage Project on Keep In Hiedanranta, Finland, an urban farming project After all, watching a small seed grow into food is EU Contribution: 127 467 € planted the seeds of greater social integration, all the more joyful when the experience is shared. bringing local communities and newly-arrived A common barrier for refugees in a new country Partners 4 refugees together to grow, prepare and share is the lack of formal certificates to enable them food. The former 19th century vegetable garden to seek employment, and in turn become part at Lielahti Manor was transformed into an ‘edible • Tampere Region Martat (Lead partner), FI of the local community. Inspired by the Swedish • Tampere Region Design Association Modus, FI park’, including eight greenhouses built from • ISSS Resilience Centre, SE partner’s strategy, ARC devised the Urban Farmer • Institute of Swedish Safety & Security, SE recycled materials. Certificate in response to this challenge, which The project organised 86 events, attended by a allowed volunteers’ skills and hard work to be total of 941 people; including 506 from immigrant formally recognised. communities. To overcome language barriers, Since the project closed, the City of Tampere video tutorials and an online vocabulary test Social Department has guided its clients to were created and are still being used in the the garden’s activities, and the community has garden’s activities. A WhatsApp group connected continued to organise gardening evenings through volunteers working on partner growing projects in involved areas the summer months — demonstrating that you can neighbouring countries; participants found unity still harvest the fruits of your collaborative labour through sharing advice, photographs and updates long after a project is over. from the gardens. P. 06 P. 07 ARRIVAL REGIONS “In-migration of non- EU nationals, especially of refugees and asylum Area • Germany - Leipzig, Sachsen-Anhalt • Czech Republic - Jihozápad seekers, is frequently Most international migrants leave rural areas Next up is the creation of a toolkit of successful • Slovenia - Zahodna Slovenija, Vzhodna Slovenija for cities – a trend that Arrival Regions seeks to strategies and measures – currently being tested • Poland - Łódzkie, Zachodniopomorskie framed as a “problem”... counteract. Instead, this project is working with • Italy - Piemonte in pilot initiatives. Joint study trips across Europe • Croatia - Kontinentalna Hrvatska we want to contribute to rural regions in need of revitalisation, guided have also been fruitful, with mutual learning by the conviction that non-EU migrants are in and cooperation with stakeholders within and a change of perspective fact essential to kick-starting declining local beyond Central Europe. Building relationships with Budget economies. stakeholders has also led to valuable cooperation by highlighting the Total Budget: 2 204 872 € Based in Leipzig, Germany, the project involves between local partners previously unaware of involved areas EU Contribution: 1 811 190 € benefits of migration to 13 partners working across ‘new immigration each other. Because migration is a very sensitive declining rural regions.” destination’ regions in Italy, Croatia, Czechia, topic, the pilots are specially designed to give Slovenia, Germany and Poland. It aims to make partners flexibility to address specific local Partners 13 Project webpage Project on Keep them more attractive to migrants who can fill needs and challenges, across different groups of • Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (Lead partner), DE vacancies in labour markets often left open by migrants — from unaccompanied minors to labour • Westpomeranian Region, PL migrants. • Lodzkie Region, PL ageing rural populations. • Municipality of Postojna, SI • Burgenland district, DE The first step has been completed: the This is done through collaboration with local • Center Rotunda, Koper, SI stakeholders, NGOs, public administrations and • Information legal centre, HR Transnational Strategy is an invaluable framework • University of Szczecin, PL to guide project partners in their day-to-day local businesses. All being well, this vital project • National Union of Mountain Municipalities and Mountain Communities – UNCEM Piemonte, IT work. It offers socially innovative solutions for will re-energise rural regions. The goal is making • Mountain Union of Mongia e Cevetta Valley Langa Cebana Alta these areas more welcoming to newcomers, Valle Bormida, IT the integration of non-EU nationals, whether in • University of West Bohemia, CZ Piemonte, Italy or the Plzeň region in Czechia. resulting in smoother integration of migrants keen • LAG Escartons and Waldensians Valleys, IT to make these rural locations home – for good. • City of Osijek, HR P. 08 P. 09 BEGIN Area Boost Environmental Guardianship for Inclusion • Italy - Emilia Romagna, Puglia, Sicilia • Slovenia - Zahodna Slovenija • Croatia - Jadranska Hrvatska • Bosnia Herzegovina - Moravica • Serbia - Šumadija and Western Serbia • Montenegro - Herceg Novi “Social enterprises, in Imagine the possibility of a workplace that is Together, project partners have shared Budget Partners 9 their various forms, genuinely diverse. A workplace in which employees knowledge about territorial development agencies, municipalities, third-sector bodies, and Total Budget: 1 150 200 € represent an opportunity from migrant or disadvantaged backgrounds • Regional Development Agency of Northern Primorska Ltd.