However, the European project is built upon principles such as human rights, equality and diversity that should be at the heart of an active and inclusive European citizenship.

How can city representatives play a role to reconnect citizens with Europe? How can cities better contribute to European policies? How can Europe support citizenship and inclusion policies at city level?

In order to address these questions, and the French Institute of International Relations organize a conference which brings together key representatives from 6 multicultural cities in Europe – Amsterdam, Athens, Birmingham, Budapest, Lisbon and Paris – for a discussion about the role of city representatives for a more inclusive democracy in Europe. 

Conference in French and English

With:

Joao Afonso, Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, City of Lisbon - Paulette Hamilton, Councillor and Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, City of Birmingham - Sofyan Mbarki, City Councillor, City of Amsterdam - Maria Stratigaki, Deputy Mayor for Social Solidarity, Welfare and Equality, City of Athens -  Örs Szokolay, Senior Advisor to Mayor Karacsony, Zuglo-Budapest - Hermano Sanches Ruivo, Councillor delegate in charge of Europe, City of Paris - Carlos Mascarell Vilar, Council of European Municipalities and Regions - Philippe Potentini, PR Officer at the Paris bureau of the Council of Europe - Christophe Bertossi, Director of the Centre for Migration and Citizenship, Ifri.

This conference is organised as part of the “Making of Citizenship” project by the French institute of international relations (Ifri) in partnership with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the French network of institutes of advanced study, the University of Warwick and the University of Amsterdam, and with the support of the “Europe for Citizens” programme of the European Union.