The Significance of Migrant Assimilation in Urban Centers Across Europe
Title: Baking Integration Into the Heart of European Cities
Are you curious about what it takes to build a city that welcomes newcomers? Many recent studies have tried to shed light on the complex and evolving process of urban migration across Europe, and what we can do to help new populations find their place. Here's a quick rundown of the key insights from the latest research funded by JPI Urban Europe's Urban Migration call.
By the way, integration is about more than just fitting in—it's about becoming part of the social and cultural fabric, developing a sense of belonging, and contributing to the community. And it's not always easy, given the myriad challenges and barriers faced by different groups of migrants.
One project, MICOLL, focused on overcoming barriers to quality and affordable housing experienced by migrants, particularly refugees. It's important to remember that integration is a multi-dimensional concept that includes not only the physical places where we live but also the cultural citizenship of a new city, the feeling of being involved in a community, and the opportunities to contribute our unique skills and talents.
But why should cities bother with integration? For starters, it's essential to fulfilling our duty to offer sanctuary to asylum seekers, as members of the 1967 protocol of the Refugee Convention. However, as we see time and time again, a toxic political environment and tight immigration control often lead to the criminalization of migration, pushing newcomers away.
Cities, on the other hand, have a responsibility to develop targeted integration strategies that meet the needs of their communities at a local level. And in larger, historically diverse cities like London, we've found that welcoming environments go a long way towards fostering integration and providing newcomers with the resources they need. But even in these cities, noticeable gaps in access to essential services like housing, financial aid, healthcare, and education still exist.
If cities can nurture migrants' experiences along spatial and relational dimensions, they can help newcomers feel welcome and included—beyond just throwing money at the problem to meet minimal human rights and migration laws. By providing opportunities to build social capital, cities can create a welcoming environment that benefits everyone.
For instance, providing stable housing allows people to build relationships within their neighborhood. Collaborative housing models, which encourage social mixing, combat the isolation so common among migrants.
Arrival infrastructure, essential public urban resources, is crucial to the integration process. This includes housing typologies, shops as information hubs, religious sites, facilities for language classes, and public spaces like parks, streets, town squares, cafes, and sport facilities.
Cultures of solidarity can also be integral to newcomers' sense of belonging. Common factors that connect people, like religion and food, can help newcomers navigate language barriers and access informal support structures.
Ultimately, cities need to do more than simply provide services—they need to create societies that genuinely welcome and value all their citizens. This is our shared responsibility for the betterment of our communities and the wellbeing of newcomers.
So, what can cities do next? Embrace a culture of solidarity, champion sharing practices, invest in fair social spaces, promote community engagement, and support equitable access to public transportation. These steps, among others, can help cities create welcoming environments where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our guidance on tools and recommendations for policies and urban transformation mechanisms to get a more comprehensive understanding of what can be done to improve the arrival and integration experience for newcomers. Together, we can make our cities places of opportunity and belonging for all.
- Cities must extend their integration efforts beyond just offering services, to cultivate a culture that genuinely welcomes and values all citizens, fostering a sense of belonging and fostering opportunities for education-and-self-development, lifestyle, politics, and general-news.
- By promoting community engagement, investing in fair social spaces, and championing sharing practices, cities can create an environment where lifestyles can be enriched, education-and-self-development can flourish, politics can be better informed, and general-news can be inclusive, benefitting everyone who calls the city home.
