On 18 November, Minister for Integration Bart Somers gave a presentation in Copenhagen on the challenges of living together in diversity. The Nordic Council of Ministers, consisting of policymakers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland, had invited the minister as speaker for the conference “Nordic Paths to sustainable Integration” while he was still mayor of Mechelen.
By participating the minister wants to consolidate and strengthen the good relations between Flanders and the countries that are part of the Nordic Council. And the conference was an opportunity to present the integration policy of the Flemish Government and to exchange good practices.
In his speech, minister Somers focused on the Flemish civic integration process, but also on three general pillars: focusing on safety and prevention, the importance of high-quality public space, and living together in diversity.