ELAINE

The ELAINE project brought together five European local or regional organizations to work together on the common theme integration of migrants and refugees. The aim of the project was to exchange experiences and best practices and develop recommendations, raise awareness and increase our knowledge on the issues with integration on both a local and European level.

About Elaine

ELAINE was an EU-project, funded by the Europe for Citizens programme that brought together five European local and regional organizations to work on the common theme integration of migrants and refugees. The aim of the project was to exchange experiences and best practices and develop recommendations, raise awareness and increase our knowledge on the issues with integration on both the local and the European level. Moreover, the project aimed to foster a sustainable cooperation between the participating partners as well as the participants themselves. The project consisted of one conference/meeting in each participating country. Each conference focused on one specific theme of integration. The conferences were varied and interactive as they consisted of workshops, seminars and study visits. Each project partner was responsible for organizing the meeting in their country and for summarizing the meetings in a report.

The primary target groups were professional officials from local government and civil society organizations working with migrants and refugees directly or indirectly at the local level. The secondary target groups were politicians and policy makers on a local, national and European level. The project aimed to be cross-sectional and the participants came from different departments, depending on the theme, with the purpose of creating broad discussions. The project was financed by the participating organizations with co-financing from the Europe for citizens program 2014-2020.

In total 6 events have been carried out within this project. The following five themes and the end conference were addressed with regards to integration:

Event 1.

The event involved 86 citizens, including 60 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 7 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 5 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 7 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 7 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Hässleholm & Kristianstad, Sweden from the 14/4/2016 to 15/4/2016.

Short description: The aim of the event was to discuss integration through entrepreneurship and employment programs. Hosted by EU-office Skåne Northeast.

Event 2.

The event involved 93 citizens, including 7 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 7 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 5 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 8 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 66 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom). 

Location / Dates: The event took place in Ipswich, United Kingdom, from the 13/6/2016 to 15/6/2016.

Short description: The aim was to discuss how the public and voluntary sector work in partnership to improve migrant integration. Hosted by East of England Local Government Association.

Event 3.

The event involved 79 citizens, including 11 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 7 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 52 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 6 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 8 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom). 

Location / Dates: The event took place in Catoira, Spain, from the 8/9/2016 to 10/9/2016.

Short description: The aim was to discuss sports and cultural activities as a means for the integration of migrants and refugees. Hosted by Catoira City Hall.

Event 4.

The event involved 93 citizens, including 15 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 60 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 5 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 6 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 6 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom). 

Location / Dates: The event took place in Vejle, Denmark, from the 31/10/2016 to 2/11/2016.

Short description: The aim was to discuss language acquisition and integration. Hosted by Vejle Videns- og udviklingscenter.

Event 5.

The event involved 86 citizens, including 11 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 7 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 6 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 54 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 8 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom). 

Location / Dates: The event took place in Maastricht, the Netherlands from the 19/4/2016 to 21/4/2016.

Short description: The aim was to discuss health and integration of migrants and refugees.

Hosted by Municipality of Maastricht in cooperation with Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and Foundation Justice and Peace Netherlands.

Event 6.

The event involved 34 citizens, including 9 participants from the cities in Skåne Nordost (Sweden), 5 participants from the city of Vejle (Denmark), 5 participants from the city of Catoira (Spain), 6 participants from the city of Maastricht (Netherlands) and 6 participants from the cities in Eastern England (United Kingdom). 

Location / Dates: The event took place in Brussels, Belgium from the 11/10/2017 to 13/10/2017.

Short description: Final conference in Brussels, with the purpose of dissemination of results and dialogue with EU based organisations and actors.

Hosted by EU-office Skåne Northeast in cooperation with Skåne Association of Local Authorities.

The project was financed by the participating organizations with co-financing from the Europe for citizens program 2014-2020.

The project was financed by the participating organizations with co-financing from the Europe for citizens program 2014-2020.