Conference “The Migration-development nexus in European inner areas”

The Migration-development nexus in European inner areas

Shaping strategies around the post-pandemic investments and plans

Organized by FIERI and Fondazione Collegio Carlo Alberto 

Piazza Arbarello 8, Torino, Italy

Languages: Italian/English, simultaneous translation available

In Italy, as in the rest of Europe, inner areas and migrants risk to be among the losers of our societies.  Several inner areas have been facing a demographic and economic decline as well as a social closure expressed through negative attitudes towards newcomers and anti-diversity voting patterns. At the same time, a remarkable rise of unemployment and poverty and an upsurge of nationalistic attitudes have been hitting a large share of migrants. Can these two potential losers become allies and foster mutual improvement by refreshing languishing local economies and societies with diversity-triggered and inclusive innovation? For this purpose, the Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the European Commission’s long-term Rural Vision may be powerful weapons but much depends on how they address and actually implement the migration-development nexus of inner areas. In order to answer those questions and starting from the assumption that inner areas are highly diverse, the event addresses processes and tools rather than prêt-à-porter solutions. Moreover, it connects the still rather separated research and policy communities dealing with migration and inner areas, and brings together scholars, local innovative practitioners and high-level public officials with the aim of blending visions and expertise into a fresh strategic thinking.

Program

10.30 – 10.45 | Opening

• Ferruccio Pastore (FIERI)
• Paolo Ghirardato (Fondazione Collegio Carlo Alberto)
• Annelies Zoomers (University of Utrecht)

10.45-11.15 | Key messages from ongoing Horizon2020 projects

What can research offer to policy formulation and implementation? What are the musts and must-nots for policies addressing migrant integration and local development in inner areas? And for Italian policies in particular?

Chair: Irene Ponzo (FIERI)

• Pierluigi Musarò. Welcoming Spaces Project (Univeristy of Bologna Alma Mater)
• Tiziana Caponio, Whole-COMM Project, (Fondazione Collegio Carlo Alberto, University of Torino, FIERI)
• Andrea Membretti, MATILDE Project, (University of Eastern Finland)

11.15-12.45 | Roundtable “Methods and approaches towards the migration-development nexus”

What are the processes and approaches that can turn internal and international mobility into a factor of cultural, social and economic renewal of inner areas? When does the mobility-development nexus fail and when does it succeed? What are the tools and methods to involve the local community and newcomers in shaping cultural social and economic development?

How can municipalities of inner areas coordinate their action and connect with higher-level institutions? How can social innovation blossoming in remote areas scale up and turn into structural measures?

How can Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and EU programmes addressing rural areas enhance the migration-development nexus? What tools do they offer? What are the risks at implementation level and what can we do to prevent them? What is the balance between inclusion and selection of inner areas targeted by those programmes?

Chair: Eduardo Barberis, University of Urbino

Daniela Luisi (Riabitare l’Italia)
Carlo Cominelli (K-Pax social cooperative, Breno, Lombardy)
Rosario Zurzolo (Jungi Mundu social cooperative, Camini, Calabria)
Matteo Biffoni (ANCI – National Association of Italian Municipalities)
Stefania Congia (Ministry of Labour and Social policies)
Matyas Szabo (Europan Commission, The long-term Rural Vision)

12.45-13.00 Concluding remarks 

Filippo Barbera (Fondazione Collegio Carlo Alberto, University of Torino, Riabitare l’Italia)