Baltic Cities and migration

The UBC Commission on Health and Social Affairs met for its annual meeting on 5 -7 October, 2006 in Rostock. This year's meeting titled "Baltic Cities and Migration - Problems, Potentials, Perspectives" raised the issue of migration. Participants came from Karlskrona, Sundsvall, Tartu, Kristiansand, Vilnius and Klaipeda. Also, members of local associations dealing with the topic were present.

The Workshop aimed at discussing the wide range of migration issues in the region as a non-classical immigration area from different angles. Were there any differences in the migration policies? What could be said about the difficulties and experiences when it came to the integration process of foreigners? The exchange of ideas and perspectives should help answering those questions and draw the public attention to the issue.

An introduction to the modern urbanization in the region, followed by a short overview of its migration politics were delivered by the Faculty of Philosophy and Economics of the University of Rostock. The representatives of Sundsvall informed about the integration situation in their community emphasising the need for immigrants as means of important economic resource. They presented two different projects that attempt to integrate immigrants to let them feel valuable and accepted by the society. Kristiansand demonstrated the importance of a working place for the integration of people with foreign background. An example of how to create public campaigns to create awareness for foreigners' contributions or needs and how integration and democracy go together was given by a representative of the Rostock association "Bunt statt braun". The participants from Karlskrona exposed their own experience with xenophobia. Finally, a representative of the International Organization for Migration from Vilnius raised a very specific and painful issue: the trafficking of humans, especially women in Lithuania. A publication will be prepared including the contributions and materials of all speakers.

It was decided to continue the Commission's work with a common project on exchange of experiences in combating xenophobia in the urban population. The Secretariat, in cooperation with the local EU antennas, was charged with the development of project possibilities for 2007 the EU Year of Equality of Chances.