This document outlines Riga, Latvia's efforts to integrate migrant communities as part of a mentoring partnership with Genoa, Italy from 2012-2014. Key points include: - Riga developed an action plan after meetings with city departments, NGOs, and migrant groups to address challenges like lack of resources and negative public perceptions of migration. - Actions included updating the city development plan to include diversity, promoting Riga as welcoming to migrants, and establishing an NGO house to support collaboration. - Genoa shared its experiences in areas like strong political commitment, high visibility of diversity, and project competitions for integration promotion to help Riga strengthen its approach.

1. OUR COMMITMENT TO
INTEGRATING MIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN
EUROPEAN CITIES
The city promotes migrants as
desirable potential and actual
citizens, neighbours and colleagues
and publicly welcomes the
opportunities diversity offers
NEEDS?
RIGA’s CHALLENGES
GENOA’s STRENGTHS
STRENGTHS
AMBITION
PROMOTING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
TOWARDS MIGRATION
BEST PRACTICES
DIVERSITY EMBEDDED IN CULTURAL PROJECTS
● TRAINING IN COMMUNITY MEDIATION AND
DIVERSITY AWARENESS GIVEN TO THE POLICE:
DROP OF VIOLENT EVENTS
VISIT! PLANNING... IMPLEMENTING!
2012-2014
ImpleMenting
City
56°56’56”N / 24°6’23”E
16 000
with temporary
residence permit
54 521
Ecuadorians, Albanians,
Moroccans, Peruvians
Ethnic
Latvians
Foreing
residents
National
minorities
LATVIA
GENOA
MENTORING
RIGA
RIGA
697 374 inhabitants
60%9% 40%
WHO?
Genoa + MIGRATION WORK
+ EUROCITIES to Riga
Both Riga and Genoa are HARBOUR CITIES
with a history of migration and diversity
City updating its
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
room for embedding
integration in city work
Already promotion of
“SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY MIGRANTS”
who settled in Riga
TALKED ABOUT
Lack of visibility + Lack of resources
+ Importance of city branding and
communication
4th
INHABITANTS FORUM
in November 2013 - 200 people participated.
Working group on education of newcomer children:
inhabitants + teachers + NGOS involved.
FOCUS ON DIVERSITY
is at the core of the
activities of Riga 2014:
involvement of people of
different ethnic social
religious backgrounds
INSPIRATION FOR
OTHER EU CITIES
MET WITH
City departments + Ministries + Univ. research
centres + NGOs + Migrant associations +
neighbourhood associations
Including diversity and integration
into Riga City Development strategy...
Branding Communication:
Riga as an open and welcoming place
“LIVE RIGA = OPEN RIGA”
Establishment of NGO house to
allow different NGOs to implement
their activities and to collaborate
Project competition for NGOs and
schools to promote integration and
benefits of diversity
Use Riga 2014 (EU culture capital) to
highlight cultural activities focused on
migration and diversity
OBSTACLES?
Uncertainty of EU funding own resources
Integrating Cities
Toolkit
Enhancing public perception
on migration and diversity
44°24’40”N / 8°55’58”E
605 000 inhabitants
Mentor
ITALY
GENOA
LACK OF
AWARENESS
or hostility
towards
newcomers
STRONG
COORDINATING
role for the
Integration
department
HISTORICAL
COMMITMENT
to the topic
SHORT TERM
ACTIVITIES
only targetting
migrants
LACK OF
MIGRANT
communities
associations
PROJECT
COMPETITION
for the promotion
of Integration:
169 Projects
supported from
2010 to 2013
STRONG
POLITICAL
commitment
LACK OF
NATIONAL
legal framework
NO
ENGAGEMENT
or interest of
media
NEED TO
IMPROVE
COOPERATION
between city
departments
COMMITMENT
to the
Integrating
Cities Charter
of EUROCITIES
HIGH
VISIBILITY
of diversity
DISCOVEREDTHAT
Genova was
EUROPEAN
CAPITAL OF
CULTURE
in 2004, Riga
in 2014
1
2
RESEARCH ON
INTEGRATION
to be conducted in
July 2014 relating to public
perception of migration
on 25/09/2013
+ 7000 persons from
350 organisations
involved
+ 50 organisations
involved in 380
events
+ 20 seminars for NGOs
NGO
HOUSE
OPENED
INTEGRATING
CITIES CHARTER
EUROCITIES
MIGRATION
INTEGRATION
WORKING GROUP
city experts supporting
the process
EUROCITIES
coordinates the
project
MIGRATION WORK
produces the
benchmark and
facilitates the
mentoring
relationship
Enhancing public perception of migration and diversity
2012 2013 2014
05 09 030211
Project
start
15 November
Assessment
November 2012
to February 2013
Preparation
of visit
February to
May 2013
Refining of action plan
May 2013 to March 2014
ImpleMentation + contribution to toolkits September 2013 to May 2014 and beyond
Launch meeting
first meeting
training in
Brussels
17-18 February
Visit
19-23 May
Integrating
Cities Conference
in Tampere
9-10 September
Cluster meeting in
Genoa with Lublin and
Tampere
19-21 March 2014