The reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is in full swing. If enacted, this legislative proposal would have a serious impact on the individual right to asylum and the access to basic human rights for refugees in the EU. Meanwhile, cities across Europe are on the frontline, doing the lion’s share of the integration work. In recent years, they have joined forces in city networks to advocate for a progressive, human rights-based approach to migration policy in the EU.
Already in 2021, solidarity cities and civil society organisations joined forces in Palermo and founded the civil society network “From the Sea to the City” (FSTC), as well as the city network “International Alliance of Safe Harbours” (IASH). In order to include local perspectives more strongly in the shaping of EU migration policy, solidarity cities from 7 European countries meet again at a two-day political discussion and networking event in Brussels on 10-11 October. The event will discuss the following questions: How can European cities strengthen the EU’s efforts to build a functioning and fair migration system? How can EU stakeholders support cities taking the lead to develop innovative and welcoming approaches locally? Together, we aim to shift the debate towards a welcoming strategy in EU migration policy.
The event is organised by Moving Cities and the EU-funded project Cities4Refugees in cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Brussels and the Berlin Governance Platform.