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Executive Summary
The Saalfeld Roundtable held on September 22, 2022, served as a valuable forum for the discussion of policies and experiences related to the emplacement of migrants. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including migrants, policymakers, practitioners, citizens, and
academics, to share perspectives and learn from one another.
Key Discussions
The roundtable provided a platform for the examination of issues related to migrants' agency, entrepreneurial capacity, and employment hardships. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the experiences of long-term residents collaborating in socio-entrepreneurship activities, such as those in Altenburg and Saalfeld.
Challenges to Sustainability
The roundtable participants identified several sustainability challenges facing welcoming initiatives, both those run by civil society and those led by governments.
In terms of governance and policy, discussions centred on issues such as discontinuity in funding, difficulties incorporating new demands into existing systems, and lack of stable structures and financing for integration work.
Additional challenges discussed included those related to mobility in rural areas, housing shortages, and labour market integration, including discrimination and racism.
Policy Recommendations
Based on the discussions held at the Saalfeld Roundtable, a series of recommendations were formulated for improving the integration of migrants. These recommendations include:
▪ The transfer of project funding into regular public funding structures, along with the implementation of new integration laws and the new integration programme (such as the one
that has been developed in the state of Thuringia) to govern the distribution of funds
▪ The enhancement of more participation mechanisms by migrants, their organisations and other civil society organisations to mitigate top-down decision-making
▪ The utilisation of crowdfunding to avoid bureaucratic obstacles in funding distribution
▪ The enhancement of job attractiveness, such as long-term employment, to attract and keep personal
▪ The enhancement of the provision of regular and visible opportunities for advice, offered by local governments, welfare state organizations and other organizations, such as Caritas, ThINKA, IQ Netwerk, MigraNetz Thüringen and Plattform.
▪ The dissemination of announcements by mayors to all inhabitants in ad-hoc situations
▪ The increased utilization of technical tools, such as video or audio translations, in doctor appointments, for example
▪ The further implementation of welcoming programs with regular and continuous public funding, such as the education budget
▪ The funding of places for social gatherings on a structural basis to promote inclusion
▪ The organization and promotion of public debates on discrimination in employment and education on regular basis and in addition to the programme Demokratie Leben!
▪ The utilization of a variety of communication channels, including art (in public spaces), music, and theatre
▪ The recognition by the political sphere and social society organisations that welcoming spaces are "making creative spaces", fostering social entrepreneurship, local small business, and art manifestations, among others, which leads to the inclusion of refugees and migrants in hosting societies.
In summary, effective migrant inclusion policies should be developed through a collaborative and an inclusive approach that involves migrants themselves, provides targeted support and resources, and promotes positive public opinion towards migrants.
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