Intercultural cities: governance and policies for diverse communities

Joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission

As communities across Europe grow increasingly diverse, the way they manage diversity becomes a key challenge for the future. Successful cities and societies of the future will be intercultural: they will be capable of managing and exploring the potential of their cultural diversity to stimulate creativity and innovation and thus generate economic prosperity and a better quality of life.

Cities involved in the Intercultural cities programme assess their governance models and policies and develop comprehensive strategies for intercultural integration. Expert reviews, study visits, city-to-city mentoring, thematic workshops and public events support them in this endeavour.

Interactive map of participating cities

Click on the name of the cities to discover their intercultural profiles and activities.

Main fields of action

Intercultural governance and policies

The programme proposes a review of local governance structures and processes and advice on ways of improving representation, participation, the quality of public debate and the effectiveness of decision-making processes in culturally diverse communities. The policies and operations of local institutions and public services are reviewed from an intercultural perspective, in relation to their impact on spatial segregation, community relations and effective enjoyment of social rights.

Media and public discourse

The programme targets directly editors and journalists in local broadcast and printed media in participating cities in order to raise their awareness of the need for balanced reporting and a community-minded approach to diversity. It also involves community leaders (elected representatives, spokespersons, NGO leaders) in debates about the importance of discourse and official communication for the shaping of positive public perceptions of diversity.

Cultural policy and action

The programme encourages creative innovation and development of local diversity-friendly cultural strategies which

put an emphasis on cultural programmes targeting all publics and enabling the interaction and cross-fertilisation of cultures;