You are here
Home > MakingOfCitizenship

MakingOfCitizenship

For detailed description of the activities of the project, please visit the following page.

Migration issues are at the heart of the European Union crisis as emphasized by the Brexit campaign   and the difficult relocation of refugees in Europe. Anti-immigration sentiments are rooted in a new discourse on “national identity” and “Western values”. In addition, the economic crisis and the crisis of representation in national institutions have further aggravated the fragility of certain groups.

How can one face the comprehensive crisis of institutions and citizenship values? What could be the future of citizenship, such as principles and practices based on democratic inclusion and participation? The project MakingOfCitizenship addresses these questions with a focus on the role of cities and city representatives in the making of civic participation in Europe.

A group of representatives from 6 European cities

The project aims to develop a dialogue among representatives of 6 European cities (Amsterdam, Athens, Birmingham, Budapest, Lisbon and Paris) on how to support citizen participation in Europe. It promotes cooperation between cities and other relevant actors of local civil societies (NGOs, associations, migrants, etc.). Conferences, seminars and meetings with civil society thus provide a framework for dialogue.

  • Lisbon, 4 March 2016: “Citizens facing Crisis. Challenges and Opportunities for European Cities”. Closed workshop and launching conference of the project MakingOfCitizenship.
  • Amsterdam, 25 April 2016: “Local Democracy and Citizen Participation in Amsterdam”. Dialogue between city representatives and associations at the Meervaart centre in Amsterdam East.
  • Paris, 20 May 2016: “Cities at the Heart of European Democracy and Citizenship”. Closed workshop and public conference.
  • Athens, 9-10 June 2016: “Refugee Relocation from Athens to Lisbon”. Visit of Joao Afonso, Deputy Mayor of Lisbon in charge of Lisbon reception programme of relocated refugees from Greece and Italy. Joao Afonso met Athens City Council representatives, NGOs, volunteers and UNHCR to discuss reception conditions, selection criteria and information delivery before refugees’ arrival in Portugal.
  • Athens, 14 June 2016: “Refugee Integration in Greece: what Cooperation between Cities and Civil Society”. This meeting brought together Athens City representatives with Greek NGOs, refugees and academics.
  • Birmingham, 30 September 2016: “Diversity and Migration: a Driver of Democracy?”. Closed workshop and public conference. This conference will address the positive impact diversity can have on participative democracy and look at the tools designed by local authorities to enhance the participation of immigrants and minority groups.  

Moreover, city representatives will participate in the drafting of recommendations about the future of citizenship policies in Europe. These recommendations will be directly addressed to EU institutions during the final conference of the project that will take place in Brussels in January 2017.

For more information, please contact migrations@ifri.org

The project is implemented in partnership with the University of Amsterdam, the University of Warwick, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the French Network of Institutes of Advanced Studies with the support of the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union.