On 13-14 November around twenty representatives of cities, states and regions gathered in Limassol – Cyprus, for the 4th meeting of the Policy Lab on inclusive integration.

The purpose of the meeting was to further work on the draft “Policy Framework on Intercultural Integration” for the national level. This is underpinned by a review of existing national and local integration strategies and exchanges with policy officials from Council of Europe member States and intercultural cities. It is also based on relevant international standards and draws on the established positive results of intercultural integration approaches at the local level. The future Policy Framework is not aimed to be a one-model fits all, rather an inspirational model to foster common understanding, a coherent approach, and shared responsibilities among all levels of governance in relation to migrant integration.

At the meeting in Limassol, participants shared, collected and analysed examples of cross-institutions cooperation in participating countries; they further discussed to what extent national authorities can promote intercultural interaction through their policies and shared inputs for designing an inspirational model for multilevel governance of integration. They have further agreed on the next steps, also in light of the recent decision of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to set-up a new intergovernmental committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CD-ADI) that will, among other things, promote and facilitate thematic exchanges and peer reviews of experience and good practice among Council of Europe member States to develop common policy responses, analyse implementation, follow and support the work of the Intercultural Cities Networks and facilitate multi-level co-operation in the field of intercultural integration, notably as regards migrants. According to its terms of reference, the CDADI will form a Working Group that will – as of 2020 - take over the informal work of the Policy Lab.