The aim of the Action is to exchange information and best practices with Mediterranean countries and Member States of the European Union (EU), and particularly their Local Authorities, which face similar challenges in respect to the management and the integration of Third Country Nationals in their local communities. The network will collect good practices and develop training opportunities for local authorities’ servants, including cooperation models between municipalities, organizational structures and management practices for inclusion and diversity.

In this Action the directly involved participants are: Municipalities of the non-occupied area of Cyprus, the Municiplaties of Pafos, Engomi, Ayios Athanasios, Ayios Dometios and Derinia, the University of Nicosia and INNOVADE. Moreover, the action is supported by the International Organization for Migration, the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, the Network of Island EU Local Authorities, the Mediterranean Migration Network, and several Local Authorities which will help in the development of the network and implementation of all the activities.

The expected outputs of the MuNet are: Identification and invitation of local authorities from Cyprus and the European Union (EU) to participate in the network. Part of this activity will be the identification of organized groups engaged in the field of migration and informal groups of migrants at local level and the creation of local immigration networks (as subgroups of the larger network). An informal needs assessment within the local authorities, on collaboration issues at a European level, and management of integration and diversity issues.

The primary aim of the Action D1 is to exchange information and best practices with Mediterranean countries and Member States of the European Union (EU), and particularly their local authorities, which address similar problems in respect to the integration of Third Country Nationals through a public network that seeks to improve the quality of the existing integration programs.