Tuscany Region Collaborates to Boost Migrant Integration
As part of the SALAM Interreg Europe Project, the Tuscany Regional Government has been actively engaging with local stakeholders to enhance policies supporting the integration of migrants into the labour market.
Following the inter-regional workshop held in Florence on June 6, 2024, which gathered key stakeholders—including ARTI (Regional Agency for Employment Services), ENM (Italian Agency for Microfinance), training agencies, and regional departments addressing social inclusion and migration—the Tuscany Region took a significant step forward.
In July 2024, the Permanent Tripartite Regional Commission, a coordination body involving trade unions and employers' associations, was introduced to the SALAM project. This meeting, convened by Regional Minister Alessandra Nardini, emphasized the value of interregional cooperation in improving policies for migrant integration.
To build on this momentum, the Tuscany Region held a series of stakeholder meetings from September to December 2024, bringing together public and private actors to analyze the current situation and explore future actions—particularly in the field of entrepreneurship policies for migrants.
Addressing Key Challenges & Strengthening Cooperation
Throughout these discussions, stakeholders identified several obstacles to migrant integration, including:
- Language barriers
- The need for accompaniment services
- Limited access to funding opportunities
Despite these challenges, all participants expressed a strong commitment to further collaboration and knowledge exchange to develop effective solutions.
The insights gained from these stakeholder meetings provided a crucial foundation for Tuscany Region’s participation in the SALAM rmeeting in Stuttgart (January 2025). These discussions helped refine the region’s approach to entrepreneurship policies for migrants, ensuring inclusivity across all ages and genders.
By fostering interregional dialogue and policy innovation, Tuscany Region remains committed to creating more effective, inclusive strategies for migrant integration—strengthening its role within the SALAM Interreg Europe Project.