Strategic thinking on equality and mobility INTI-Cities: Benchmarking Integration Governance in European Cities Integrating Cities II conference Palazzo Reale, Milan (IT) 5 November 2007 Presentation by Jan NIESSEN, MPG

Examples of MPG’s recent and current work  European network of independent legal experts in the non- discrimination field (Legalnet)  European network of equality bodies (Equinet)  Handbook on Integration for Policy-makers and Practitioners (1 st edition in 2004, 2 nd edition in 2007, 3 rd edition in preparation)  Setting up a System of Benchmarking to Measure the Success of Integration Policies in Europe, Report for the European Parliament, January 2007  Migrant Integration Policy Index, October 2007  European Web Site on Integration

Defining successful integration Integration is a social process that promotes the long-term well being of all inhabitants in a diverse society by achieving the following societal outcomes:  Equity/non-discrimination - fair and equal access to available resources and rights.  Dignity/recognition - recognition and respect for (groups of)) individuals.  Autonomy/Development – entitlement of individuals to make their own choices and lead an autonomous life.  Participation/Commitment – commitment to participate and civil duties Successful integration is the convergence of these societal outcomes for immigrants and the overall population.

Benchmarking and integration governance « Benchmarking (…) is a tool to systematically identify impediments, set standards and learn from and adapt good practice. (Such exercices) often generate innovative policy solutions that are transferable horizontally across borders and sectors and vertically up to the European level. » Jean-Marie CAVADA Chairman, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs European Parliament

Why is the process of benchmarking integration governance and policies important? Benchmarking includes and allows for: ↓Identifying areas for improvement ↓Developing indicators for quantifying and qualifying integration processes ↓Setting standards ↓Comparing one’s performance to that of others ↓Engaging in continuous monitoring and evaluation ↓Implementing identified changes needed to meet the standards set

The INTI-Cities project: overcoming the fragmented policy streams of integration governance Integration services often dispersed across different administrative units at city level Lack of cooperation between the city administration and civil society actors and private sector Horizontal fragmentation Lack of dialogue between the European, national, regional and local levels of integration governance Vertical Fragmentation One of the objectives of the project is to develop a benchmarking model for multi-dimensional integration governance that overcomes the fragmentation of policy-making and service-delivery.

The INTI-Cities project: originality and distinctiveness What makes the INTI-Cities project different from other projects in the field of integration governance? The framework  INTI-Cities takes place in the framework of Integrating Cities, the process launched in 2006 by the European Commission and EUROCITIES as a series of high-level conferences aiming to establish a dialogue on integration and create bridges of cooperation between the local, national and European levels. The outputs  Developing, piloting and promoting an innovative model of multi-dimensional integration governance that actively involves immigrants;  Delivering expert-validated comparative knowledge on integration structures, policies and practices in 6 European cities, involving 12 cities as reviewers as well as local officials and stakeholders, including immigrants; and  Developing a pool of experts with in-depth experience on good practices at the local level. The method  Critical friends providing a peer-validated assessment of progress, based on intensive exchange and mutual learning from senior city staff with responsibility for integration policies

The INTI-Cities project: the method Peer-reviews can be defined as critical friends providing a peer-validated assessment of progress towards an ‘ideal situation’ (ie, the benchmark), with a report that informs and assures stakeholders. The peer-reviews conducted in the INTI-Cities project will develop outputs at 3 levels:  For the reviewed city: feedback on successes and potential improvements  For the reviewers: learning experience and ideas for transfer of good practice to their own city  For the wider European integration community: pilot experiences with an innovative benchmarking method and in-depth-knowledge of good practice examples

Acting on equality and mobility Thank you for your attention!