Exploring the contribution of migration city networks to policy learning in European cities: The case of Eurocities

As cities face growing challenges in managing migration and take on a more prominent role in addressing it, they increasingly turn to city networks (CNs) for collaboration. These networks provide opportunities for policy actors to acquire and exchange policy-related knowledge, engaging in a process known as policy learning. However, empirical studies on policy learning at the local level, particularly in the field of migration, remain limited. This article addresses this gap by exploring the role of migration-related CNs in fostering policy learning in European cities. I take Eurocities, the largest European city network doing work on migration, as my case study. Employing a mixed methods approach — including desk research, participant observation, and a survey with members of Eurocities’ Working Group on Migration and Integration — I assess in what ways, and to what extent, the network fosters policy learning among its members. The findings show that CNs only contribute partially to policy learning at the local level, as the learning they promote mostly relates to the individual and organisational levels, with limited influence on policy change. As a result, policy learning should be understood as a more nuanced process that not only results in policy adaptations, but also culminates in less tangible outcomes, such as the acquisition of practical insights and shifts in policy-related perspectives. By introducing migration-related CNs as an arena for learning, this research helps to bridge the gap between the literature on policy learning and on local migration governance. • A policy learning analytical framework is used to examine learning in Eurocities. • Eurocities shapes learning mainly at individual and organisational levels. • City networks contribute to policy learning in ways that are often intangible. • Local policy change is often limited by factors beyond the scope of city networks.