Migrant and refugee solidarity in European cities: A meta-synthesis of key themes and approaches

Across Europe over 700 cities are actively supporting solidarity-based migration policies and practices. Often, these cities are responding to regressive and anti-migrant policies enacted at national and EU levels. In this paper, we examine data collected by Moving Cities on good practices in urban migrant and refugee support through 28 case studies of cities across Europe. Our meta-synthesis of this data highlights key themes across European cities adopting solidarity-based migration policies: the empowerment of municipal actors, collaborative approaches, and integrated frameworks. We also discuss the importance of local context. These findings largely affirm the literature but also contribute a whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective reflecting an integrated framework to established knowledge on urban solidarity practices and policies. The findings also offer important insights and practical guidance for local policy making. • European cities show patterns in structuring solidarity work, engaging stakeholders, and local policy. • Meta-synthesis of migrant solidarity initiatives across 28 progressive European cities • Three vital municipal actors shape migrant solidarity: mayors, staff, and immigrant councils. • Migrant solidarity relies on partnerships across civil society, regions, and city networks. • European cities adopt integrated approaches to migrant solidarity across society and government.