The focus of Dortmund: Immigration from the Western Balkans is increasing!

On December 10, 2024, a specialist day for the “Western Balkans extension” took place in the Dortmund town hall. The focus was on the influence of the EU process on people from Albania, Northern Macedonia and Serbia. The aim of the event was to clarify the question of whether Dortmund was well prepared for the possible EU expansion in 2030. 42 representatives from the city administration, labor administration, welfare associations and free providers took part in the conference.

The potential and challenges of immigration from the Western Balkans were discussed during the specialist day. The speakers included Jelena Mićović from Caritas Serbia, who reported on their work in return advice and the challenges for returning, as well as Samet Shabani from the NGO Horizon Civitas from Northern Macedonia, civil engagement and democratic values. Stela Tanzellari from the NGO Different and Equal from Albania spoke about the support of victims of human trafficking and discrimination.

Need for integration and support

interactive themed islands enabled the participants to discuss the needs and expectations of the immigrant. Special need for action was identified in the housing and labor market as well as in the education system. There was also talk about the structure of transnational networks. A central knowledge of the event was that Dortmund has to adapt to an increasing immigration, especially with regard to the housing market and the educational offers. It was also emphasized that native language offers could make integration easier.

The specialist day promoted the networking of the actors and emphasized the need to further develop the overall strategy for new immigration. One goal is to offer everyone a good prospect of staying. The specialist group plans to intensify transnational cooperation, for example through return aids for migrant workers. The specialist day was organized by the transnational cooperation specialist group, which is part of the overall strategy for new immigration and consists of members of the city of Dortmund and Freiefärt. The management is responsible for Frank Merkel from Caritas and Thomas Heimburger from the Department of Labor, Health, Social Affairs, Sports and Leisure.

In addition, the "Model report from Southeast Europe 2024" showed that the proportion of the EU2 citizens living in Dortmund has risen by 2.7 percent to 12,040 people by the end of December 2023. Compared to previous years, however, the increase was moderate. The proportion of EU2 citizens: Inside the total population of Dortmund rose to 2 percent.

The report also shows that the migration dynamics has decreased; While 14,000 immigration and emigration were still recorded in 2014, in 2023 it was only just under 4,500. The integration of EU2 citizens: Inside the labor market, has accelerated since the introduction of full workers. By the end of 2023, 3,959 EU2 citizens were employed: Health insurance could be set up for 2,650 families. In the city's daycare centers and children's rooms, over 300 children with Romanian or Bulgarian citizenship are looked after.

Nevertheless, there is a lack of financial means to secure successful integration measures in the long term. The "Funding Program of Southeast Europe", which supports the social integration of EU citizens: on the inside, is up for discussion in terms of cuts. In 2023, 1,856 new registrations for school places were registered, which represents a decline compared to 2022. In addition, 28 apartments from neglected real estate in the north town were renovated and newly rented by the end of 2023. The city of Dortmund works closely with the Quarterwerk gGmbH to renovate real estate and employ long -term unemployed. Despite the challenges, good progress and success in integration were made.

The city of Dortmund appeals to the country and the federal government to provide support in order to be able to better manage the integration and consequences of the EU expansion, as from the reports of wirindortmund.de and nordstadtblogger.de .