Grass-roots democracy took centre stage in Palermo on 8 November when the international programme "Cities as Change Makers in European Asylum and Migration Policy" staged a citizens’ assembly in Piazza Magione. Local residents, migrants, urban planners and NGO representatives debated how municipalities can influence EU asylum procedures, focusing on reception capacity, housing shortages and the 2026 rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES).
The assembly – part of a three-day festival combining public art, food performances and policy labs – adopted a manifesto urging Rome to give mayors a formal role in selecting locations for new reception centres and to allocate a fixed share of the national migration budget directly to city councils. Participants also called for fast-track work permits for asylum seekers in sectors with vacancy rates above 5 percent, mirroring recent German reforms.
![Palermo hosts citizen-led ‘Cities as Change Makers’ assembly on future EU asylum rules]()
Why it matters for business mobility: Italy’s tight labour market means that faster access to employment for asylum applicants could enlarge the talent pipeline in logistics, hospitality and eldercare. If adopted, the manifesto’s proposals would shorten the period during which asylum seekers are barred from formal work (currently six months) and reduce the need for temporary agency labour.
From a compliance angle, companies should monitor how local authorities might introduce city-level integration requirements – such as compulsory language courses – as pre-conditions for employment. HR teams may need to budget for language-training allowances or liaise with municipal one-stop shops to obtain documentation.
Organisers will present the manifesto to the interior ministry and the European Parliament’s LIBE committee in Brussels next spring, positioning Palermo as a test-bed for city-driven migration governance.
The assembly – part of a three-day festival combining public art, food performances and policy labs – adopted a manifesto urging Rome to give mayors a formal role in selecting locations for new reception centres and to allocate a fixed share of the national migration budget directly to city councils. Participants also called for fast-track work permits for asylum seekers in sectors with vacancy rates above 5 percent, mirroring recent German reforms.
Why it matters for business mobility: Italy’s tight labour market means that faster access to employment for asylum applicants could enlarge the talent pipeline in logistics, hospitality and eldercare. If adopted, the manifesto’s proposals would shorten the period during which asylum seekers are barred from formal work (currently six months) and reduce the need for temporary agency labour.
From a compliance angle, companies should monitor how local authorities might introduce city-level integration requirements – such as compulsory language courses – as pre-conditions for employment. HR teams may need to budget for language-training allowances or liaise with municipal one-stop shops to obtain documentation.
Organisers will present the manifesto to the interior ministry and the European Parliament’s LIBE committee in Brussels next spring, positioning Palermo as a test-bed for city-driven migration governance.
