Since the beginning of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, city level action has been pivotal in ensuring the integration of Ukrainian people. This responsibility persists despite the strain on local budgets, but cities’ work is most impactful when matched with appropriate financial support.

Within the EU-funded UNITES initiative, municipalities collaborate on co-designing integration strategies with migrant communities established in local environments. Thanks to UNITES, cities with limited prior experience in integration strategies, such as Oulu or Prague, have successfully implemented methods to integrate Ukrainians.

UNITES supports Prague’s efforts to collaborate with Ukrainian-led organisations, providing psychological support, integration advice, and conflict prevention activities. Additionally, the city is working on building a base for communication and feedback with migrant communities. Under UNITES, the Finnish city of Oulu hired a Ukrainian psychologist to offer mental health support to newcomers and gather feedback to ascertain the needs of the Ukrainian community.

According to the Council of the European Union, more than 4.2 million people from Ukraine benefited from the Temporary Protection Directive as of November 2023. While the Directive has undoubtedly yielded positive outcomes, local authorities express concerns about its implications and impact on Ukrainians residing in their cities once it expires.

In response to this issue, Eurocities and its network of more than 200 member cities from across Europe are calling with one voice for the EU and national governments to decide on the next steps required to ensure the residence and protection status of Ukrainian migrants. In addition to these immediate concerns, cities are confronted with an emerging new challenge: transitioning from emergency responses to a more sustainable, long-term integration strategy.

That’s the case of Bratislava. Since early 2022, Bratislava has taken in 34,865 refugees, representing 7% of the city’s population, including more than 10,100 children. As a result, the share of migrants and refugees increased from 8% in 2020 to 14% in 2022. Nowadays, the city employs data collection and analysis to devise a strategic framework for better inclusion of individuals with foreign backgrounds at the local level.

The conflict in Ukraine and the need for long-term strategies provided inspiration for CONSOLIDATE, which kicked off in March 2024. CONSOLIDATE, funded through the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, works with twelve cities for more effective support in labour market integration for refugees and other newcomers. It also offers support mechanisms for refugees to live autonomously in self-managed housing and one stop shops that are designed to be accessible places for coordinated service provision for all newcomers.

Adding to this support, local authorities continue to advocate for better access to integration funding in the current funding period of 2021-2027 and the forthcoming EU budget.

To build cohesive asylum and migration policies that integrate local realities, cities must be included as equal partners in multi-level policy discussions. This includes not only the integration of Ukrainian beneficiaries via temporary protection measures, but also the protection of all refugees.

People settling in European cities hail from diverse nationalities and cultures. All migrants and refugees need access to residence and work permits, housing, education, medical care and social welfare. However, migrant communities suffer from different types of exclusion, including labour market obstacles, lack of participation in the public sphere, the digital gap or language barriers.

Cities work to overcome those obstacles. For instance, Madrid has forged a partnership with the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance, among other NGOs, to foster the development of green skills among 135 third-country migrants and applicants for international protection, with a particular focus on women.

Rotterdam endeavours to address digital exclusion through its Teatime initiative, in which women from Turkish backgrounds gather to acquire digital skills. Similarly, Espoo developed a study to gather feedback on migrant trust in the local government and, based on it, adapt or create better public services.

Under UNITES, Grenoble Alpes Metropole has created the a platform through which refugees provide feedback on policies and actions affecting their lives in the city. The insights gained through city-to-city collaboration in these projects offer valuable lessons to the development of EU migration policy.

In Zaragoza, the House of Cultures facilitates cultural exchanges and ensures migrant communities’ needs are recognised and addressed. Managed by elected associations – two migrant-led, two social entities and one representative of the Roma community – the House of Cultures ensures representation from civil servants, public administration and civil society associations.

To get to know the structure of the city administration, and to ensure the participation of migrant communities, Dusseldorf has involved a group of nine people from migrant communities and will train them for outreach to migrant communities.

Cities call on the EU and its member states to monitor the outcomes of the New Pact that, once implemented, could undermine human rights standards and European values. In the Eurocities manifesto – A better Europe starts in cities – Eurocities calls on the European institutions to support cities in embracing refugees of all backgrounds and guarantee the non-discrimination and safety of individuals fleeing their countries.

As articulated in the Eurocities Migration policy paper cities, civil society and other stakeholders should be consulted by EU member states when developing their national action plans to implement the new legislation on the ground.

The paper also underscores the imperative to uphold the universal right to asylum, affirming that the EU should ensure equal access to rights and protection for all refugees in Europe, regardless of their origins and identity, no matter the colour of their skin, their gender, sexual orientation or religion.

In brief, cities must be closely involved in the EU and national responses to receiving refugees. Eager to amplify their contributions to European and national governance, cities stand ready to offer expertise and practical insights in reception efforts while facilitating the exchange of invaluable knowledge. Input from cities is paramount to developing policies that foster more open and inclusive societies where everyone feels welcome regardless of background.