General remarks:

It will be a real working conference with exchanges between representatives of cities (elected officials, public service officers, migrant representatives) by using different cities for a case study approach. Cities will be asked to send information before the conference on different items. Conference organizers will get in touch with them to help produce the papers.

Some of the experts will be invited for input on different themes in order to provide a general background and a methodological structure for the debate. We will produce working papers on these themes available before the conference. The rest of the experts, as well as participants will be invited to provide structured feedback, comments and suggestions in relation to city case studies so as to help the cities in question to define their own approach and priorities in terms of inclusive service and administrative reform.

The conference papers, discussions and study visits will provide useful insights for pilot cities which are in the process of preparing their intercultural policy strategies. In the broader context of the Intercultural cities programme the conference results will contribute to the preparation of guidelines for intercultural city-building – a strategic document for the attention of all 200.000 municipalities in Europe which will be disseminated through the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the National Local Authority Associations.

The city case studies will be published and will also be used in the context of a policy recommendation to be prepared by the Council of Europe Intergovernmental committee on migration.

The Dutch organizers will produce a book in English as a result of the conference.

Tuesday April 14th

During the day: Arrival of CoE guests of the following cities:

• Izhevsk (Russian Federation)
• Lublin (Poland)
• Lyon (France)
• Melitopol (Ukraine)
• Neuchâtel (Switzerland)
• Oslo (Norway)
• Patras (Greece)
• Reggio Emilia (Italy)
• Subotica (Serbia)
• Berlin Neukölln (Germany)
• Tilburg (the Netheralnds)

Wednesday April 15th

Working visits in Tilburg for CoE guests; the guest of the program “intercultural cities” will be divided in groups and will visit different neighborhoods in Tilburg; they will get information about Tilburg’s policies for migrants in the so called “impuls” neighborhoods, how Tilburg is trying to get better results, which partners are involved. They will have the chance to meet citizens of Tilburg and professionals of services involved. There will be material on general policies in the Netherlands.

Participants of Brabant Province and of other Dutch cities and experts are welcome to joint the visits.

During the day: Arrival of other international guests and speakers.

Thursday April 16th

Arrival of national guests, especially of Dutch cities. Invited cities will be of the G27 (cities between 100.000 till 250.000 inhabitants). There is place for about 25 guests of Dutch cities.

Morning

Welcome by the Alderman of Tilburg, Mr Gon Mevis.

Gon is Alderman for neighborhood policies and for international affairs. Gon is responsible for the participation of Tilburg in the intercultural policies program of the CoE. A general overview of the Tilburg approach.

Welcome by Robert Palmer, the Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage, CoE

Phyllis Brunsson (CSSP, Washington): Keynote speech: What we like to reach for in the conference: better results for all children and families in an intercultural perspective.

Elevator Pitch of the 5 themes by 5 experts. They will shortly introduce dilemma’s and approaches and will introduce their “teams” of experts

• Mike Doolan (Australia): the role of talent
• Ravinder Barn (UK): the importance of inclusive thinking
• Con Hogan (USA, Vermont): getting better results
• Kevin Chaplin (South Africa): involving citizens
• Miep van Hees (the Netherlands): learning differently

Afternoon:

Working groups on

• inclusive thinking: the case of Neuchâtel, Izhevsk and Lublin
• involving citizens: the case of Berlin Neukölln and Reggio Emilia
• organising talents: the case of Lyon and Subotica
• learning differently: the case of Oslo and Patras
• getting results: the case of Tilburg and Melitopol

Special guest

Prof. Yasuyuki Kitawaki, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies: Japanese cities dealing with migration and diversity (title to be confirmed)

Possibility to meet institutions, foundations, companies, volunteers and services which are active in the city of Tilburg.

Friday April 17th

Morning

Short keynotes by

Mayor Ruud Vreeman of Tilburg
Mayor Heinz Buschkowsky of Neukölln Berlin

Afternoon:

A debate between: Jet Bussemaker, the Secretary of state responsible for the law on social support in the Netherlands, Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage at the Coe and different political representatives of provinces and cities.
How do we walk the talk: implementation of the results of the conference into regional, national and international policies and practices.

Closure of the conference by the secretary of State of the Netherlands, responsible for local social support. Mrs. Jet Bussemaker.

Press conference.