The visit was conducted by the Council of Europe Secretariat, and ICC expert, Robin Wilson on 8-9 July. They met with Mayor Arnau Rovira Martinez, municipal councillors, as well as staff from various departments of the City of Manlleu and representatives of civil society organisations active in education, youth, neighbourhood, and cultural and religious fields.

Organised by a local planning committee in coordination with the Council of Europe, the expert visit aimed to follow up on Manlleu’s ICC Index Report, assess existing policies, and identify further areas for development in line with the intercultural inclusion model.

The programme focused on key themes including education, neighbourhood cohesion, public services, social and cultural life, welcoming newcomers, participation, and intercultural competence. Stakeholders demonstrated a strong commitment to intercultural values and presented several promising practices, particularly related to social cohesion and wellbeing in local neighbourhoods.

The visit also allowed the ICC experts to share relevant tools and examples from other member cities. It revealed additional policies and initiatives not captured in the city’s original index submission, which will be integrated into the upcoming “intercultural profile” of Manlleu. This profile will include tailored recommendations to guide the city’s future actions within both the ICC Programme and the Spanish Network of Intercultural Cities (RECI), which Manlleu joined in 2022.

The ICC Programme will maintain ongoing dialogue with the city, providing further support and resources to reinforce its intercultural approach.