MILEstone

The MILEstone project addresses the sustainable labour market inclusion of non-EU nationals. As these individuals often remain in low-income jobs where they can't exploit their full skillset, public authorities across Europe should take additional measures to promote vocational training (lifelong learning) as well as business creation by non-EU nationals. To achieve better public policies in this domain, the MILEstone project foresees a number of policy learning activities carried out by the consortium. The project work plan foresees baseline studies for each of the nine territories addressed by the project, identification and assessment of 20 good practices, three thematic seminars carried out on interregional level, nine peer review visits, intensive exchange among stakeholders on both local and European levels and continuous communication activities.

To achieve a fruitful exchange of experiences, members of the MILEstone consortium represent both areas that have been destinations for arriving non-EU nationals since decades, such as Linköping (SE), Jyväskylä (FI), Piemonte (IT), Hogeland (NL) and Ascó (ES), and those who have become arrival regions in recent years, such as Central Macedonia (EL), Burgenlandkreis (DE), Westpomeranian Region (PL) and Postojna (SI). The consortium is complemented by the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography as Advisory partner and three policy-responsible authorities representing one local, one regional and one national public authority. The different geographic and institutional background of the project partners provides the basis for a fruitful collaboration, intensive exchange and joint learning.

Outcomes of the project will be regularly shared on the project website and regular video publications including both short testimonials and a professional project short movie highlighting how policy improvements rooted in the MILEstone project contribute to "A more Social Europe".