As Europe faces growing labour shortages and begins implementing the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the 2026 Stakeholder Dialogue at the European Parliament brings together policymakers, cities, researchers, and civil society to advance pragmatic, liberal solutions on labour migration and integration.
About the event
Over the past two years, the European Cities Network on Migration has developed a substantial and interlinked portfolio of work. The Berlin Workshop (May 2025) convened municipal leaders, researchers, civil society stakeholders, and private sector representatives from Germany, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Lebanon, and additional nations to analyse local contexts for labour market integration. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s Innovation Lab produced forward-thinking policy proposals regarding talent mobility. Dr. Başak Yavcan’s policy paper, “Cities at the Forefront,” consolidated workshop findings into actionable EU-level recommendations across four key areas: legal pathways, integration frameworks, digital tools, and municipal capacity.
Collectively, these initiatives constitute a significant liberal contribution to the ongoing European migration discourse. The 2026 Stakeholder Dialogue at the European Parliament aims to present these outcomes to relevant decision-makers.
This event is strategically scheduled as the New Pact on Migration and Asylum is entering its implementation phase. The European Commission is advancing talent partnership frameworks, and labour shortages in sectors such as health, construction, digital, and green industries are central political issues across member states. Despite these developments, public debate continues to be influenced by crisis management and restrictive approaches, rather than pragmatic economic perspectives and liberal principles.
Programme
16:00 – 16:10 Welcoming remarks
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16:10 – 16:30 Research Spotlight – Presentation of two project outputs:
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16:30 – 17.00 Session I – What prevents cities and EU institutions from moving from pilot practices to scalable policy solutions? Facilitated exchange focusing on implementation gaps and practical barriers.
Moderator: Ailbhe Finn, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum
17:00 – 17.20 Session II – What prevents cities and EU institutions from moving from pilot practices to scalable policy solutions? Discussion on coalition-building, liberal narratives on migration, and the creation of a sustained Brussels-based stakeholder platform.
Moderators: Gulcin Sinav, Program Director, FNF Türkiye Odilia Abreu, Senior Project Manager Mediterranean Dialogue, FNF Europe
17:20 – 17.30 Conclusions & Road to 2027
Key takeaways, next steps, upcoming field visits, and introduction to the 2027 “Stop Tragedies, Attract Skills” Summit.
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