Interreg EUM POWER project on EU migrant policy
How can municipalities better reach and inform EU labour migrants? In this project, led by the research group Changing Role of Europe, we are working together on solutions for improved access to information.
Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning
Many EU labour migrants are insufficiently aware of their rights and responsibilities, while municipalities have limited insight into who is living and working in their city. The Interreg Europe project EUM POWER, a collaboration between nine partners from eight EU countries, seeks to improve the flow of information to this target group. The Hague University of Applied Sciences is the project’s lead partner.
The free movement of people within the EU makes it easier to work across borders. At the same time, it brings certain challenges: many EU labour migrants are not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities when they start working in another country. Conversely, municipalities and regions where they settle often have limited insight into who is living and working within their jurisdiction. For both local authorities and migrant workers, it is desirable that this situation improves.
Purpose
Better access to information for EU labour migrants, strengthening of local policies, and improving economic and social cohesion within the European Union.
Target
EU labour migrants in low-income sectors, local governments in participating countries, policymakers, and civil society organisations working with these groups.
Method
Interregional cooperation with partners from eight countries. Each region develops a policy instrument based on local data collection, stakeholder groups, and the exchange of best practices. As part of the project, in-person meetings are held in each of the eight participating regions. During these meetings, Community of Practice sessions are organised by The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Results
EUM POWER aims to improve the rights and opportunities of EU labour migrants and to enhance economic, social, and territorial cohesion within the EU. The project delivers best practices, interregional meetings, thematic workshops, and Community of Practice sessions, targeting both receiving and sending regions.
Impact
The project contributes to social policy at the European level. Municipalities improve their understanding of EU labour migrants, leading to better support, fairer working conditions, and strengthened social cohesion. In addition, the practical knowledge gained from this project is directly integrated into education, and the findings will be shared across Europe through Interreg’s Policy Learning Platform.
More information
More information about the project can be found on the official project website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/eum-power.
Start and end date
1 May 2025 – 31 July 2029
Funding
Interreg Europe (subsidy of €2.063.028)
Collaboration
Municipality of The Hague, Guissona Municipality Council (Spain), Ninove Municipality (Belgium), Cluj-Napoca Municipality (Romania), JPYP Business Service (Finland), Pannon Business Network (Hungary), Region of Peloponnesos (Greece), Vardar Planning Region (North Macedonia).
Team
Research group Changing Role of Europe (Rosa Groen, Gijs Giesen, Remmelt de Weerd) in collaboration with research group Urban Social Development (Karijn Nijhoff).
Contact
Remmelt de Weerd – project coordinator. [email protected]
