The Academy on the integration of migrants and refugees in the Baltic countries was launched in Riga, Latvia, on 12 March 2025. This inter-agency initiative aims to enhance the capacity of city administrations in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to effectively integrate refugees and migrants.

The Academy is a collaborative effort involving the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities (ICC) Programme, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Its goal is to equip local officials with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the challenges of welcoming newcomers.

Building on the successful 2023-2024 pilot "Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Polish Cities", the academy in the Baltic States will run for 18 months, providing local staff with the tools needed for inclusive and sustainable integration strategies.

In the coming months, participants in the Baltic Academy will engage in trainings on various key topics, including strengthening intercultural competencies, building effective partnerships, addressing misinformation, meeting the needs of specific refugee groups, and tackling gender-based violence.