Author: The New European
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“We need to start addressing racism early” – Kirstie Angstmann reflects on migration, integration and opportunities
Kirstie Angstmann lives in Freiburg, Germany, but she was born in Ghana and moved to Europe many years ago. She has a background in cultural projects and has served on Freiburg’s Migrant Advisory Board and Women’s Commission for the last four years. She is a strong advocate for advancing the inclusion of migrants, minorities, and…
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Celebrating the contribution of migrants: Championing business success and community engagement
If immigrants across the EU were as active in self-employment as 30-49 year old native-born men, there would be an additional 1.3 million self-employed immigrants (OCDE, The Missing Entrepreneurs 2023). Migrants indisputably contribute greatly to both their origin and their destination countries, yet they face heavy barriers to reach their full potential as entrepreneurs. Today…
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Building Inclusive Cities: Highlights from Bologna’s Integrating Cities Conference
Photo Credit: Eurocities ‘Bolognesi. Dal primo giorno’. (‘Bolognese. From the first day’). These are the words that welcome you to the city of Bologna, written boldly on a red banner at the front of the city hall.
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The diversity investment gap: Is Europe overlooking migrant entrepreneurs?
By Vanessa Cotterell Project Coordinator at UNITEE The European Union stands at a critical point in its economic and financial strategy, as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions, alongside a new political term for the European Commission and Parliament. Investment, competitiveness, and resilience have resurfaced as key policy buzzwords…
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We are going to the Integrating Cities Conference: Shaping Our Cities with Migrant and Local Communities
The power of municipalities in the integration of migrant communities is not to be undermined. But how can cities become more inclusive? This week, we are heading to Bologna, Italy, to attend the “11th Integrating Cities Conference: Shaping Our Cities with Migrant and Local Communities” , which is part of the UNITES (Urban Integration Strategies…
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Is the new Commission committed to inclusiveness?
The upcoming days will shape the next five years of the European Commission. Back in August, EU member states nominated their candidates for the next European Commission. Now, from 4-12 November, the Commissioners-designate who were assigned to various portfolios by President Von der Leyen will undergo hearings conducted by Members of the European Parliament. Let’s…
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Non-inclusivity is slowing down Europe’s economic growth, and this needs to change
As the world becomes more interconnected, diverse and interdependent, inclusivity is no longer just an ethical issue but an economic necessity. The cost of non-inclusivity – the failure to include marginalised groups in key aspects of society – results in significant losses in terms of economic productivity. Non-inclusivity comes at a high price for Europe’s…
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WTO Public Forum Wrap-up: To be more competitive, we must be more inclusive
For those passionate about inclusivity in business, last week’s WTO Public Forum was hard to miss. 4400 people gathered in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 138 sessions organised by the WTO. This year’s was particularly significant for those working to make entrepreneurship more accessible, as one of the conference’s sub-themes was ‘Digitalisation as a catalyst…
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Entrepreneurs as a key to peace: how fragile states can benefit from inclusive entrepreneurship
Could entrepreneurs be the key to promoting peace in conflict-stricken areas? Let’s take a deep-dive into the recent study published by Seth D. Kaplan, a professor at John Hopkins University, and Adrian Magendzo, professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Kentucky, which explores the impact entrepreneurship can have on peace processes in fragile states.…
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Sustainable Development’s Secret Weapon
How Migrant Workers Fuel Sustainable Progress Across the Globe Brussels, 17th of June 2024 – According to the IOM, migrant workers inject almost $800 billion into the local economies of their home countries through remittances. In an increasingly interconnected world, the role of migrant workers and entrepreneurs transcends geographical borders, with their contributions extending far…