WELCOMING SPACES CONFERENCE

21 JUNE 2024, UTRECHT

‘WELCOMING EUROPE’? UNDERSTANDING MIGRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL AGEING, DEPOPULATION AND RURAL-URBAN TRANSFORMATION

Current discussions about the link between migration, ageing, and depopulation often lead to polarized debates. Is migration the solution? Can migrants contribute to filling gaps and revitalizing shrinking areas?

These questions reveal multiple paradoxes and dilemmas. Drawing from the outcomes of our H2020 Welcoming Spaces programme (2019-2024) and various Utrecht University research initiatives, the conference aimed at broadening the debate. The organizers’ goal was to unravel the connections between ageing, shrinkage, and migration, ultimately proposing concrete suggestions for achieving “spatial justice” and ensuring that no one is left behind. The full report on the conference can be found here.

Main takeaways and policy recommendations

Strengthen Rural Development Policies: Implement and enhance policies that address the urban-rural divide, including implementation support and focusing on creating resilient and prosperous rural areas. Support initiatives that integrate rural migrants and address issues such as depopulation and lack of targeted policies.

Promote Inclusive Integration Programs: Develop and expand integration programs that include both migrants and local communities. Ensure that activities and resources benefit everyone to prevent perceptions of preferential treatment and improve social cohesion.

Support Legislative and Structural Changes: Advocate for and implement legal and structural reforms that facilitate the reception and employment of asylum seekers. Ensure stable funding and support for municipalities participating in reception efforts, and provide incentives for employers to hire asylum seekers.

Enhance Local Implementation of EU Policies: Increase support and resources for local-level implementation of EU policies, such as the Long-Term Rural Vision. Address gaps in local policy advancement by ensuring adequate budget allocations and support from the EU Commission.

Address Volunteer and Administrative Needs: Recognise the reliance on volunteers for community projects and address the shortage of administrative personnel. Invest in the capacity building of local administrations to support and sustain community initiatives effectively in the long run to avoid the short-termism of community initiatives.

Intensify Direct Community Engagement: Foster direct engagement from the side of the project and local administration leaders with communities to better understand and address their specific needs and contexts. Promote policies that align with the progressive stance of local municipalities while considering and addressing the different levels of conservatism in different regions regarding migrants and asylum seekers.

Increase Visibility and Continuity of Research: Enhance the visibility of research findings and continue organising conferences and events that facilitate dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers. This will help maintain momentum and ensure that research informs policy and practice effectively.

We conclude that effective policy frameworks and governance structures are essential for the success of rural development and migration inclusion initiatives. Ensuring that policies are flexible and adaptable to local conditions can enhance their impact.