Integration passes by the cities ” “

What do we see when we look at life in the cities where we live through the lenses of interculturalism? What strategies have been implemented by local authorities to positively manage diversity (social, demographic, religious, etc.) – which is now a fact in most parts of Europe – and benefit from them? Similar initiatives to this regard are not lacking, coupled by efforts carried out by EU institutions to highlight these “best practices”, albeit not very visible. The Council of Europe has been carrying out such efforts for the past years through the “Intercultural Cities” program: it is the first “expo disseminated” throughout the urban realities of the Old Continent, whose goal is to turn differences, potential tensions, and latent conflicts between different ethnic groups within its borders, into integration and resources. From Norway to Malta. The cities make their “best practices” available to all. But those who endorsed the project are also expected to carry out reforms and policy adjustments, by promoting social integration, raising public awareness etc. 63 cities, across Europe and beyond, are part of the project to date. The latest entries are Bergen and Stavanger (Norway), Limerick (Ireland) and Haifa (Israel); candidates at present are La Valletta (Malta) and Reykjavik (Iceland). To become part of the network of intercultural cities, candidates must fill out a questionnaire which reviews 14 areas of life in the city (for example: the education system, public services, the labour market, cultural policies, governance …) and receive, based on the responses, an “analytical report” that studies the outcomes, puts them in connection with the performance of other intercultural cities, and points out the strengths as well as areas in need of improvement. A group of experts then visits the territorial situation and makes a series of spot verifications by drawing up a “cultural profile” that will serve as a basis for future work with the city. An “agreement” is then compiled that, once signed, marks the official accession to the project. After that the city administration, supported by a group of experts, begins to review its policies from an intercultural perspective and is included in this network for the sharing of good practices, which is eventually substantiated with visits to other cities, seminars on specific themes, information exchange. Denmark’s example. Copenhagen, for example, is one of the most active intercultural cities, which does not mean that it has solved all of its problems. However, the city stands out for its commitment to create a positive coexistence between 77% of the Danish population and the remaining 23 % of various origins. Copenhagen has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming the most open and welcoming European city by 2015, with a political program for inclusion based on three principles: “diversity is a strength; everyone must be given the opportunity to make their own contribution; citizenship should be accessible for everyone”. A working group consisting of representatives from educational and political institutions, civil society, economy and religious leaders has defined four priority areas: “all children must be make a positive start to life; inclusion in the labour market; reaching out to vulnerable groups and areas; a safer Copenhagen”. Among the initiatives taken figures the Diversity Charter, signed by 610 enterprises and associations: signatories pledge to undertake actions to ensure that diversity is present in the public debate and to support initiatives that promote inclusion and combat discrimination”. The role of languages, the value of religion. Limerick, an Irish town that signed its entry into the project on November 20, in the context of an international conference on the role of sport and art for an intercultural city, is facing the challenge of 10% of immigrants within the borders of its county. Its intercultural strategy, that will now have to be substantiated with concrete programs, provides – inter alia – investments in language courses to ensure that all migrants are able to hold a conversation in English, as well as the tools “to understand the complexity of minority languages” spoken in cities for those working in the public administration; make the local media capable of “collecting and presenting information in a responsible and intercultural manner” and launch intercultural awareness training for politicians and public administrators. Melitopol, in South-east Ukraine, is an intercultural city since 2008. In fact, over a population of 160 thousand inhabitants, only 54% are Ukrainians. The latest town initiative in the framework of the “intercultural cities” initiative dates back to October 19 2013, with a celebration in which thousands of citizens convened in the central square of the city for an interreligious prayer to God for peace in Ukraine”. Interculturalism also starts from here.