On 9–10 December, the 17th Meeting of the European Integration Network (EIN) brought together the European Commission and integration stakeholders in Brussels to exchange on current priorities, practical challenges, and emerging cooperation opportunities in the field of integration.
The first day of the meeting focused on EU funding for integration, examining how instruments and programmes can be made more accessible and better aligned, and exploring ways to strengthen synergies between funding streams through targeted breakout discussions.
A dedicated afternoon session addressed an especially timely theme: the participation of migrants in the design and implementation of integration‑relevant policies. The session featured inputs from expert speakers and provided space for peer exchange and joint reflection on participatory approaches across Member States.
Stefan Grasgruber‑Kerl (Head of Campaigning, Südwind – Vienna) contributed to this discussion and the subsequent breakout work, representing Südwind and the EMV‑LII project consortium. His participation helped connect the EIN dialogue to the consortium’s ongoing work to strengthen meaningful migrant participation and inclusive local integration practices across partner contexts.
The second day continued with updates from DG HOME and EIN representatives on the implementation of key EU integration initiatives and upcoming network activities.
