PRO M OTING R E FU G E E I NT E G RAT I O N A ND I NC LU SI ON : E M P OW E R I N G M U N I C I PA L I T I E S AC R OSS E U R OP E 3. Opportunity concentration: Municipalities facing oversaturation, or declining populations How to best redistribute refugee populations in cities and towns throughout national territories remains a key topic of discussion and analysis in Central and Eastern European countries hosting predominantly refugees from Ukraine, but also in countries in the region currently grappling with other large-scale refugee situations, and rural depopulation, such as Armenia, Germany, Italy and Türkiye. P R O MOT IN G R E FUGE E IN T EG R ATIO N AN D IN C LUSIO N : EMP OWE R IN G MUN IC IPAL ITIES ACROS S EUROPE Background & guidance The OECD has developed indicators for assessing regional attractiveness to better help national and regional policymakers assess factors that attract investors, talent and visitors to certain pockets of their national territories over others. Once pinpointed, efforts can be stepped up to enhance the attractiveness of less densely populated territories, which could make certain currently underperforming localities more magnetic. It also considers the need to co-ordinate across levels of government, across policy fields, and with private stakeholders, and highlights good practices to implement regional attractiveness policies. Whole-COMM is a multi-stakeholder research and policy initiative focused on integration policies and community cohesion in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas. Resources include a specific toolbox for supporting effective migrant and refugee integration in these contexts. The Municipality of Fundão has become widely recognized for its visionary cross-sectoral and inclusive work on migrant and refugee integration within a progressively depopulating territory of Portugal. See Fundão: An Embracing Land in Portugal. Main issues & challenges for municipalities ● Smaller cities and towns tend not to be attractive destinations for most refugees: While highly favourable conditions for the inclusion of new arrivals often exist in smaller, less densely populated urban areas and rural towns, refugees tend to gravitate toward capital-cities and metropolitan areas, where jobs and diasporas are concentrated. Furthermore, a person with any sort of migratory profile with a high level of education is more likely to settle in urban areas where highly skilled job opportunities are concentrated.40 In the face of declining populations and a loss of workers needed to boost investment,41 Chambers of Commerce have been increasingly stepping-up to support integration efforts in these declining areas.42 Many case studies reflect that smaller cities tend to offer strong support networks of local NGOs and citizens, more accessible labour markets with critical hiring needs, and ample affordable housing options, facilitating faster integration.43 However, most of these examples are linked to refugee resettlement programs, community sponsorship schemes, or national placement policies within central government-led asylum seeker dispersal policies, where the place of residence is usually designated, and often with limited consideration of economic inclusion prospects.44 10 ● Dispersal policies are posed as potential solutions, but generally do not have a good track record. The evidence suggests that refugees allowed to gravitate freely toward their networks of co-nationals benefit from improved access to information and labour market inclusion in the long-term, as well as improved social integration.45 UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR EUROPE, AUGUST 2024 Anna, a refugee from Ukraine, demonstrates road rules during a driving class as part of an inclusion and integration project funded by UNHCR, the municipality of Naples, and the Ministry of Infrastructure in Naples. © UNHCR/Alessandro Penso UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR EUROPE, AUGUST 2024 11