Representatives from the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and a group of pioneer ‘intercultural cities’ throughout Europe gathered recently to discuss the successes of “diversity advantage” in their respective cities.
Representatives from the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and a group of pioneer ‘intercultural cities’ throughout Europe gathered recently to discuss the successes of “diversity advantage” in their respective cities.
Dublin served as host as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency, and Dublin City Council was at the forefont of organising and participating in the event.
The conference, at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, was an update on the progress of attempts since 2008 to promote the inclusion of migrants and minorities within varying cultures.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí formally opened the conference by welcoming officials from around Europe and beyond to the capital and inviting them to progressively strive for intercultural acceptance.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter also welcomed the reception to Dublin, taking note of the city’s unique situation.
In reference to Ireland’s growing diversity despite the economic downturn, he said: “To ensure a sustainable future for Ireland, we need to establish the foundations for a more equal, socially progressive society which is comfortable with diversity.”
The minister went on to promise such movements, saying that “the Irish Government will continue to promote policies that integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and that promise social inclusion, equality, diversity and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities.”
Jean-Paul Makengo, deputy mayor of Toulouse in France, shared Minister Shatter’s ideas.
“We must teach people how to live together, how to respect each other, and how to accept their differences,” said Makengo, “We have put in place an observatory for discrimination to deal with all issues to do with discrimination.”
Makengo also offered an example of Toulouse’s efforts to include foreign nationals in the city’s everyday life.
Unlike most of France, he claimed that Toulouse “has tried to allow foreign nationals to vote in local elections and allow them to take part in life in the city”.
Efforts such as those being made in Toulouse are representative of what is necessary across Europe to allow for the acceptance of cultural diversity and integration, the conference heard.
The Netherlands has also taken similar actions to promote the acceptance of foreigners, according to Rotterdam’s deputy mayor Korrie Louwes, who cited the need for encompassing policies.
“There has to be policies that are more inclusive, that really give room to innovative actions. An example is the campaign ‘100% Rotterdam, 100% Diverse’ – the message is that it’s not about the 46 per cent, it’s about the 100 per cent, it’s about us all as an inclusive policy.”
Louwes described how a neighbourhood built in Rotterdam designed to house Moroccans has had unexpected success in allowing cultural diversity in the city.
“If you just look at the people living there, it’s a very nice mixture of everything that’s really there,” said Louwes, “You see a nice mixture of more than 20 cultures living in this Moroccan Square.”
Hallstein Bjercke, deputy mayor of Oslo, sees diversity as “a competitive advantage to our city”.
During his time in office, Bjercke said he has been “pleased by the engagement and efforts of large businesses and the civil society. They address and include the possibilities and qualities of the migrant population.”
The conference agreed that Europe is taking the necessary steps to accept and include the growing migrant populations within its cities, and that efforts will need to continue to progress as the diversity of these cities expands every year.
