Policy papers

Authors
Christiane Heimann, Janina Stürner, Petra Bendel, Hannes Schammann

Abstract
In the times of COVID-19, what are the risks and opportunities for city diplomacy in European migration and integration governance? The consequences of the pandemic on the fragile structure of transnational city-to-city and city-to-EU cooperation are largely overlooked. As priorities shift to short-term crisis management, city representatives find it more difficult than ever to set aside time and resources for city diplomacy at the European level.

There is a real risk of re-localising urban issues that can only be successfully addressed by multilevel governance. The backslide of considering cities as mere policy implementers would hinder the concerted development and promotion of policies that reflect and address migration realities on the ground.

Innovative working methods must be included into city diplomacy, and migration-related policy issues addressed comprehensively. Realising these opportunities is not only necessary to maintain existing networks, but also address short-term management issues and long-term recovery strategies in the context of the pandemic.

In order to seize the windows for inclusive and innovative work methods and policy design in city diplomacy, the following measures should be adopted:

  • expand inclusive virtual city networking;
  • strengthen city diplomacy’s everyday dimension;
  • foster EU institutions’ virtual accessibility;
  • promote cross-regional city diplomacy;
  • break up ‘siloing’ of interdependent policy fields;
  • normalise non-discriminatory access to basic services;
  • promote inclusive narratives, incubate community solidarity networks; and
  • link ad hoc COVID-19 practices to general integration strategies.

Link
https://www.epc.eu/content/PDF/2021/City_diplomacy_PB.pdf

Authors
Janina Stürner, Christiane Heimann, Petra Bendel, Hannes Schammann

Abstract
European cities and towns are at the forefront of the reception and integration of refugees and migrants. Their expertise and knowledge are crucial in crafting workable solutions for new arrivals and their host communities.

Luckily, EU institutions and a growing number of member states are starting to recognise municipal actors as essential players in integration governance. However, moving away from ad hoc exchanges on integration towards more structural forms of cooperation, and opening up migration policy debates to local input remains challenging.

Building on an analysis of the benefits of proactive cooperation between local authorities and EU institutions, this Policy Brief presents recommendations to (i) strengthen the local impact on supranational policymaking; (ii) link migration and integration policies through the inclusion of municipalities; and (iii) mitigate the urban-rural divide.

Link
https://www.epc.eu/content/PDF/2020/Mayors_make_migration.pdf

Authors
Petra Bendel, Hannes Schammann, Christiane Heimann, Janina Stürner

Abstract
Die Flüchtlings- und Asylpolitik der Europäischen Union steckt in einer Sackgasse. Die Lasten der Aufnahme von Schutzsuchenden aus den Krisenregionen in Europas Umfeld sind ungerecht verteilt. So verweigern einige Staaten die Aufnahme, indes andere durch Regelungen wie das Dublin-Abkommen mit einer großen Zahl von Flüchtlingen überfordert werden. Interessant ist, dass gerade dort, wo die größte Last der Integration geschultert wird, besondere Ansätze für eine Migrations- und Integrationspolitik zu finden sind – nämlich in den Kommunen, europaweit. Das vorliegende Policy Paper „Der Weg über die Kommunen“, in Auftrag gegeben von der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, plädiert daher für eine aktivere Rolle der Kommunen in der Asyl- und Flüchtlingspolitik, bezieht die Erfahrungen von Modellprojekten ein und entwickelt daraus eine Reihe von Empfehlungen für die Politik.

The European Union’s refugee and asylum policy has reached an impasse. The reception of persons seeking protection from the crisis regions in Europe’s surrounding areas is distributed unfairly. Some states refuse to take in any refugees at all, while others are struggling to cope with a large number of refugees as a result of regulations such as the Dublin regulation. It is interesting that it is in those places which are shouldering the largest burden of the integration that particular migration and integration policy strategies can be seen, namely in the municipalities throughout Europe. For this reason, new strategies in EU asylum and refugee policy, which will remove the blockades, should start right there. In this policy paper “A Local Turn for European Refugee Politics” the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung puts forward proposals for a more active role of the municipalities in refugee and asylum policy.

Link
https://www.boell.de/de/2019/02/11/der-weg-ueber-die-kommunen
https://www.boell.de/en/2019/03/19/local-turn-european-refugee-politics