City of Venice - European Policies EUROPEAN OPEN DAYS 2007 Managing Migration and Integration at...

City of Venice - European Policies

EUROPEAN OPEN DAYS 2007

Managing Migration and Integration at Local Level

The experience of the City of Venice

Andrea Del MercatoDirector

Social Policies, European PoliciesCity of Venice


Structure of the presentation

1. The MILE fast track project

2. Data collection at regional and local level: Veneto and Venice

3. Themes, actions and priorities


1.

The MILE fast track project


Project introduction

• The Commission has identified a number of specific themes for the REC/Fast Track programme. MILE proposal addresses the specific theme of: Managing migration and facilitating social integration.

• Regions and Cities invited to participate in MILE project are asked to proactively introduce best practice ideas into their mainstream programmes.

• Furthermore, MILE partners will develop, with the support of the project expertise, action plans for testing and evaluating best practice methods.


Project PartnershipEach partner City works in pair with its Managing Authority

1. City of Venice and Veneto Region (IT) – Lead Partner2. District of Rotterdam/Charlois and City of Rotterdam (NL);3. City of Vantaa and Employment and Economic Development Centre for

Uusimaa (FI);4. City of Turin and Piedmont Region (FI);5. City of Timisoara and Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing

(RO);6. City of Komotini and Managing Authority for Regional Operational of Eastern

Macedonia and Trace (GR);7. City of Sevilla and Direccion General de Fomento del Empleo de la

Consejeria de Empleo de la Junta de Andalucia (SP);8. City of Amadora and Managing Authority for Operational Programme (PT);9. Municipality of Nea Alikarnassos and Region of Crete (GR).


MILE Pilot Project’s Structure

The Project is subdivided into 3 phases, for a total of 20 months:

• Phase 1 - 6 months (May to October 2007): Operational Phase• Phase 2 - 12 months (November 2007 to October 2008):

Implementation Phase• Phase 3 - 2 months (November to December 2008): Dissemination

Phase


MILE Pilot Project : Phase 1

Funded by URBACT I and focused on the production of 10 baseline studies (one for each city) highlighting local issues and problems related to migration and integration.

Objectives• Build up a partnership up to 10 cities/MA• Produce a baseline study which assemble each partner’s issues and

needs• Agree the work programme for phase 2 • Develop a template for local action plan.


MILE Pilot Project : Phase 2 and Phase 3

Phase 2 and Phase 3 are to be approved by the Urbact Monitoring Committee in Autumn 2007.

Phase 2 will focus on the definition of each partner’s local action plan whereas Phase 3 will implement a dissemination strategy of project results.


2.

Data collection at regional and local level: Veneto and Venice


Overview

• In the last decade, Veneto has become the second Italian region for immigration flow.

• This is mainly due to :– the wide opportunities to find a job which is primarily offered by the Veneto's

production system and by the high request for families' assistance (62% of the residence permits);

– families reunification (32% of the residence permits).

• In the Veneto Region the immigration is a long term structural phenomenon, thus regional and local policies address it consequently.


Overall data

In 2002 the new Immigration Law (National Law n. 189 - July 30, 2002 - also known as “Bossi-Fini Law”) legalized a wide part of illegal immigration in Italy. Before the law: 133.674 workers were legally resident in the Veneto Region.After the law: the resident workers increased to 190.610.

In 2005 in the Veneto Region the total number of resident migrants was 320.793 of which:• 203.435 legal immigrant workers • 46,6% women • 24,1% minors.

In 2005 in the City of Venice the resident migrants were 14.769 (of which 50,7% women and 24,4% minors), 5,5% of the total resident population.


The distribution of migrants by nationalities:differencies between Veneto and the City of Venice

The highest demand for families reunification comes from the largest immigrant communities originally from : Bangladesh, Moldova, Ukraine, Albania and Morocco.

Morocco13,6%

Romania13,4%

Albania10,4%

Serbia & Montenegro

6,7%

China5,1%

Macedonia4,3%

Other countries

Bangladesh16,3%

Moldova10,6%

Ukraine7,8%

Romania6,2%China

6,2%Albania5,9%

Other countries

VENETO VENICE


The main policy: equal opportunities

The main policy implemented by Venice and its region is to give equal opportunities to all resident population, without differences between Italians and migrants.

This policy is mainly developed through:• training courses to help migrants’ employment;• social housing programmes; • better social relationships;• better education opportunities;• programmes for new entrepreneurships.


Number of immigrantsIn Veneto and in Venice

2002 2003 2004 2005

Veneto 184,000 240,000 287,732 320,793

var. % 30.4 19.9 11.5

Venice 6,771 10,334 13,008 14,769

var. % 52.6 25.9 13.5

% Venice/Veneto 3.7 4.3 4.5 4.6


Age distribution of the immigrantsin Veneto and in Venice

2005

0,0

2,0

4,0

6,0

8,0

10,0

12,0

14,0

16,0

18,0

<5 5-9

10-1

4

15-1

9

20-2

4

25-2

9

30-3

4

35-3

9

40-4

4

45-4

9

50-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-6

9

70-7

4

>75

VenetoVenice


Housing condition of the immigrants in Veneto2001/2003

Coses Report 2001 Ismu Report 2003Arrival After 5 years

Rental 35% 62% 69%

Ownership 4% 9% 11%

Temporary 53% 24% 19%

- guest 49% 17% 15%

- hotel 1,3% 0,7% 1%

- welcome centre 3% 6% 3%

Precarious 7% 5% 2%

Total 100% 100% 100%


Immigration reasons in Venice

To study2,6%

Family reunification23,5%

To find a better future

19,4%

To find a job

41,8%

Political reasons2,3%

Other10,3%


Immigrant workers by sector

Agriculture6,7%

Fashion10,0%

Wood Industries4,8%

Heavy Industries26,0%

Constructions13,3%

Commerce & Transport

10,8%

Families Service18,7%

Social Services3,2%

Other Services6,5%


Immigrant entrepreneurs by sector

Constructions34,7%

Commerce16,7%

Trasports13,1%

Hotel/Restaurant11,4%

Firm Services7,8%

Heavy Industries7,5%

Agriculture4,7%

Other Services4,2%


Immigrants’ scholarship


Managing migration and integrationat regional and local level

The MILE fast track project has identified in its first phase four themes in order to analyse and describe the immigration and integration:

• Theme 1: Enterprise development for ethnic minorities

• Theme 2: Active inclusion in the labour market

• Theme 3: Cultural diversity, economic development and social cohesion

• Theme 4: Access to services.

For each theme, the actions undertaken, the services provided, and the priority needs have been analysed. The following slides illustrate the results of this survey in Veneto Region and in the City of Venice.


Theme 1Enterprise development for ethnic minorities


Business support (financial)

Actions undertaken/services provided• There is not a particular business support or financial facilities in terms of

availability of credit for migrants and ethnic minorities. This is due to a general policy towards migrants and the ethnic minorities whose main core is to promote a system of equal opportunity for all people (natives and migrants).

Priority needs• Main priorities do not concern the financial system, but the information network.

In fact, in order to make business and create enterprises, detailed information networks are needed (several language translations in order to support entrepreneurs in comprehending the procedures, the rules, the laws, the funds opportunities, and the monitoring systems).


Business support (non financial)

Actions undertaken/services provided• There are many entrepreneurial associations that provide support services to

open and to manage an enterprise, also for the enterprises with migrant owners.• There are several training courses arranged by entrepreneurial associations, for

aspirants entrepreneurs and also for migrants.

Priority needs• To create a data base of the professional associations and related training courses

in order to provide detailed information about opportunities for the enterprises, and the realisation of a web portal in cooperation with the Veneto Region and the Work Market Observatory.


Measures to access a wider market

Actions undertaken/services provided

Within Veneto region there is a productive environment that fosters the development of small enterprises, often a family-owned business.Often migrant entrepreneurs run this kind of enterprises.In order to access wider markets, there are many opportunities to promote enterprises in cooperation with the Veneto Region, the Venice Chamber of Commerce and the Trade Show System.

Priority needs

Increase data about the presence, dimension and structure of the migrants’ enterprises on the territory, especially in relation with the need for checking the employment policies, the respect of rules, and workers’ rights.


Changing the enterprise culture

Actions undertaken/services provided

In Veneto there is a regional law addressed to develop a better network system of enterprises. It supports specifically the aggregation and the collaboration within enterprises to build up productive districts.Recently, within this law and a specific measure of the ROP programme 2000-2006, a training programme addressed only to new enterprises has been activated. The aim of this programme is to promote a wider enterprise culture within the disadvantage territory included by Ob. 2 (2000-2006). A part of the territory of the city of Venice (the former District 2) is included in this area and is therefore eligible for these training actions.

Priority needs

No priorities to be underlined


Theme 2Active inclusion in the labour market


New comers

Actions undertaken/services provided• Strong informative fragmentation reduces the possibility for the new comers to

approach the information. This creates social exclusion and does not pursue the equal opportunity policies introduced by Veneto Region and at the same time promoted by City of Venice and the other territorial local bodies.

• The actions undertaken in this field regard the realization of training courses, which obviously are opened to all and therefore not only to immigrants.

Priority needs• The strong informative fragmentation reveals the necessity to create

multifunctional front offices for inclusive actions in the labor market at a local level (i.e. a local front office in the city of Venice and a regional office to organise the cooperation within partners).


Early school leavers

Actions undertaken/services provided• Information offices addresses to young people (Informagiovani)• Specific inclusion programmes for teenagers (age 15-19).

Priority needs• To comprehend the relevance of the phenomenon, by means of analysis and

monitoring of the problem.• To connect the data base of the City of Venice (in particular the Observatory on the

school drop out) and the Observatory on the obligation formative of the Province of Venice.


Single parents

Actions undertaken/services provided• The main problem is related to the pregnant women that need to give birth and

consequently need social support. The City of Venice has a specific support programme but it is sufficient just to help women during the first maternity months.

Priority needs• Better coordination within the different institutional and non institutional services.• To promote families reunification, particularly concerning male single parents.• To improve specific support programmes for young mothers.


Women migrants

Actions undertaken/services provided• Plans of social inclusion for colf and health keepers within Veneto Region, City of

Venice and Caritas (NGO)• Specific front office for migrant women • Specific training courses for migrant women • The “Reunification project”.

Priority needs• To promote actions in order to develop microcredit initiatives.


Roma community

Actions undertaken/services provided• Report on the Roma and Sinti situation in the province of Venice, in order to

deepen the knowledge, establish collaborations, favour concrete policies, organize and optimize resources and capabilities of the territory

• Social inclusion actions (particularly elimination of the nomadic fields).

Priority needs• Children scholastic inclusion• To develop the sense of affiliation of this minority to the community where the

minority lives• To stimulate an attitude of active and responsible citizenship.


Theme 3 Cultural diversity, economic

development and social cohesion


Tourism and cultural diversity

Actions undertaken/services provided• Veneto is the first Italian region for tourist presences and the tourism is a strategical

resource for the City of Venice in terms of GDP (1.5 billion euro only in Venice). • The cultural diversity is part of this system of supply: historically, Venice has always been

open to cultural exchanges. The cultural life of the city is characterized by different events: the Biennale of art, Biennale of architecture and Biennale Cinema Festival, important international meetings (to which the Strategic Planning dedicates an entire session) and ethnic and world music festivals.

• A significant example of this characteristic is the realization of the "Multicultural Woman Center" project in collaboration with associations, cooperatives and services of the third sector (NGOs).

Priority needs• The general priority for the Veneto Region and for the city of Venice is to consider the

cultural diversity in term of integration and not in term of differentiation.


New media, new technology and cultural diversity

Actions undertaken/services provided• New media and new technologies are equally accessible to everyone and

represent a high potential to develop a good multicultural dialogue.• There are significant related activities in Venice (music, art, video, etc.) and

newspapers in native languages, radio broadcasting in different languages as English, Italian, Arabian, etc.

Priority needs• To decrease the digital divide and promote the use of personal computer in order to

allow a wider access to information networks.


Intercultural dialogue

Actions undertaken/services provided• The programme 2006 of the Conference of the Mayors foresees the introduction of

comparison's practices with the immigrant communities present on the territory.• Since many years, the City of Venice has been carrying out a tightened dialogue

between Italians and Muslims, with the collaboration of migrant associations present at local level.

• In the year 1990, Veneto Region has approved a regional law (LR n. 9/90) dedicated to the development of a regional network on immigration and today fosters the free association system, with the aim of building strong relationships between migrants and local population. There is also a regional register of migrants’ associations.

Priority needs• Creation of the data base of the associations with the collection of the statutes at

local level.


Housing

Actions undertaken/services provided• Up until 2004 Veneto Region has implemented a specific policy for facing the

housing emergency for migrants. Nevertheless, in the evolution of the regional programmes, the housing for migrants has become part of the wider context of social housing; therefore, at the moment, there are no specific actions related to “housing for migrants”.

• Presence of specific initiatives of the third sector (NGOs) addressed to underprivileged segments of the market demand.

Priority needs• To promote a strong investment policy for social housing at regional and local level.


Theme 4Access to services


Education

Actions undertaken/services provided• Connection of the initiatives for the improvement of integration of the migrants

through the “Zone Plans”, promoted by the Conference of the Veneto’s Mayors, with the involvement of the migrants’ associations: the Zone Plans aim at realizing a planning process and programming the offer of social and health services following the regional guidelines.

• Particularly, it is foreseen for all the children coming from migrants’ families to go to compulsory school; this policy includes also the children of irregular migrants.

• The school policies foresee that the children have to be inserted into classes that correspond to their age and not to their school level.

Priority needs• To promote cultural integration projects in schools where the unknowledge of Italian

language is the most difficult obstacle.


Health

Actions undertaken/services provided• There is a lack of tools for culture mediation within the health services for examples in

the case of emergency hospitalisation for migrants that do not speak Italian language and/or belong to culture or profess religions that need specific diagnostic approaches. Nowadays, the City of Venice is asked to intervene with its mediators when necessary.

• The City of Venice is active in offering services of cultural mediation and in plans of integration to the migrant women and children (age 0-3);

• The Veneto Region promotes the overcoming of the “migrant status” in the field of health services.

Priority needs• The priority is to increase the system of cultural mediation, in particular in the Hospitals.

Veneto Region is today facilitating these actions by increasing the financial resources and by building an organized and coordinated system for the supply of services.


Final comments


Final comments

• Immigration in Veneto and in the City of Venice is a long term topic.

• The first emergency phase is over.

• The needs of migrants can sometimes be similar to the needs of the disadvantage people.

• The aim of the social and economic policies in the Veneto Region and in the City of Venice is to give equal opportunities to all the people, without differences between natives and migrants.


Thanks for you attention!

For any informations: [email protected]

All the MILE project documentation will be soon available in the Urbact web site: www.urbact.eu

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