Living Together: Projects Promoting Inclusion in 11 EU Cities

Depending on the policies and history of a given country, strategies to address challenges to diversity and integration differ across cities in Europe. In examining the effectiveness of local government integration policies and practices in 11 EU cities, the project has found that integration and meaningful interaction between groups is taking place daily at the local level across almost all sectors of everyday life.

However, discrimination and prejudice still remain an important barrier, which city officials and civil society are working hard to overcome. In recognition of this and the importance of the local level in fostering a greater and inclusive sense of belonging and identity, the At Home in Europe Project aims to highlight participatory and innovative practices which promote social inclusion and nondiscrimination at the city level.

Living Together is a compilation of projects that promote inclusion identified during the “Muslims in EU Cities” research, undertaken in the following 11 cities: Antwerp (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Marseille and Paris (France), Berlin and Hamburg (Germany), Amsterdam and Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), and Leicester and Waltham Forest–London (United Kingdom).

The guide presents a mixture of local and city projects, policies, and practices (past and present) which have sought to improve opportunities for the inclusion of minority and marginalized groups, and to challenge inequalities, discrimination and marginalization often faced by social excluded groups in the areas of:

• Identity, belonging, and interaction
• Education
• Employment and training
• Housing
• Health
• Policing and security
• Participation and citizenship
• The role of the media

By highlighting good practices, the At Home in Europe project hopes to encourage learning, dialogue, and inspiration across cities, sectors, and communities. Intended as a resource for governments, local authorities, policymakers, nongovernment organisations, and charities, the guide will be revised and updated on a regular basis to reflect new efforts and initiatives emerging from the 11 cities.

The report is available for download in English, French, and German.

Hard copies of the report can be requested, but please note that they may not always be available. To order one, please contact Csilla Tóth at csilla.toth@opensocietyfoundations.org.