Sixth Meeting of the EMV-LII International Project Consortium in Empoli

From 7 to 9 October 2026, the sixth meeting of the international consortium of the project Empowering Migrant Voices in Local Integration and Inclusion (EMV-LII) took place in Empoli, Italy. The Slovenian partners in the project are the Peace Institute, Gmajna Cultural Association, the City of Ljubljana and the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia.

The meeting was organised by the Italian project partner COSPE, which prepared a comprehensive programme aimed at exchanging experiences and good practices in migrant integration, political and social participation, and cooperation with local communities.

Participants were welcomed at Empoli City Hall by Deputy Mayor Nedo Mennuti. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on services and good practices for residents with a migrant background in the Municipality of Empoli, highlighting local initiatives and approaches to migrant inclusion. Particular attention was given to the newly established Migrant Council (Tavolo delle Cittadinanze), which represents an important step towards greater migrant participation in shaping local policies and decision-making processes affecting their lives in the community.

Representatives of the German project Rural Areas. Home. Future. (Land.Zuhause.Zukunft) also presented their work, highlighting different models and practices of migrant political participation in Germany.

As part of the programme, we visited several local institutions and initiatives that contribute to social inclusion, education and community engagement in different ways. These included CPIA, the Provincial Centre for Adult Education, and DesTEENazione, a multifunctional youth space offering opportunities for social interaction, education, training, and social and psychological support. We also visited the former La Perla cinema, now operated by the Scomodo Association as an inclusive community space, and the Collegiata Museum, where we learned about the Coperta di Linus project, which aims to facilitate migrants’ access to the labour market. The programme concluded with a visit to Stazione di Posta, a new municipal service centre.

The three-day meeting provided a valuable opportunity for project partners to exchange experiences and gain insights into different approaches to migrant inclusion at the local level. It also reaffirmed the importance of active migrant participation, their involvement in decision-making, and the development of inclusive local communities, which are among the central objectives of the EMV-LII project.