Proposed Local Integration Strategy (2026–2030) for Region of Crete

Authority: Region of Crete (Περιφέρεια Κρήτης)
Scope: Regional Units of Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Lasithi
Approved by: Regional Council Resolution [No./Date]
Co‑implementers: Municipalities, Regional Observatory for Social Inclusion (Περιφερειακό Παρατηρητήριο Κοινωνικής Ένταξης), Heraklion Development Agency (HDA), Employment Services (DYPA), Public Health/Regional Hospital Network, School Directorates, Chamber of Commerce & sectoral employers (tourism, agri‑food, construction), CSOs & migrant‑led organisations, UNHCR/IOM partners, Universities (UoC/TEI)

Executive Summary

Crete has experienced surges in arrivals and growing integration needs—with rapid influx spikes recorded in mid‑2025 stressing local reception and services (Chania Agia venue, Rethymno port; transfers via Heraklion cargo terminal) and prompting urgent coordination among regional and municipal authorities.

At the same time, Crete retains strong integration assets: a legacy of ESTIA housing and local cooperation in Heraklion, Chania, Siteia, Gazi (2017–2020), municipal Migrant Integration Centers (KEM) operations (e.g., Heraklion), and new participation mechanisms piloted locally under EMVI‑LII (training cycles, e‑participation DECIDIM, migrant advisory councils) with direct Region of Crete support.

This Strategy adopts the EU Action Plan on Integration & Inclusion 2021–2027 pillars (education, employment, health, housing) and the two‑way, multi‑stakeholder approach endorsed by the European Commission, while plugging into Greece’s National Integration Strategy (2021) and EU funding lines (AMIF, ESF+, ERDF, Erasmus+).

It establishes a regional governance architecture (Integration Steering Committee; four thematic working groups; regional migrant advisory council linked to municipal councils), sets clear KPIs, and anchors monitoring in the Regional Observatory’s data systems, building on WHOLE‑COMM’s whole‑of‑community approach and UNHCR municipal recommendations (evidence, housing, funding, alliances).

1. Vision, Mission, Principles

Vision: A welcoming Crete where newcomers and long‑standing residents thrive together, strengthening social cohesion and the island’s economy.

Mission: To deliver evidence‑based, locally adapted measures across education, employment, health, housing, and participation, co‑designed with migrants and communities, and sustained through blended financing.

Principles:

• Two‑way integration & inclusion.  

• Multi‑stakeholder & whole‑of‑community governance.

• Evidence‑based planning & robust monitoring.

• Non‑discrimination & equality mainstreamed.

• Sustainability beyond project cycles.

2. Regional Context & Needs

Population & flows (snapshot): Greece counted ~913k third‑country nationals in 2024 (8.8% of population) and rising protection applications; Crete saw acute 2025 influx spikes (boats via Libya/Egypt/Gavdos; overcrowding at Agia, Rethymno, Heraklion). Use the Ministry’s monthly datasets (2024–2025) and ELSTAT migration notes for local disaggregation.

Local assets: Memorandum of Cooperation UNHCR–Heraklion (2024); KEM Heraklion service model; ESTIA legacy apartments & SIL pilots; Cities Network for Integration membership (Heraklion, Chania) enabling peer learning; EMVI‑LII regional participation pilots (training, DECIDIM).

Key barriers: language gaps; qualification recognition; affordable housing pressure and risks of segregation; access/navigation of health & mental health; fragmented local data; need for migrant participation to be structurally embedded. EU and UNHCR guidance highlight these gaps and call for durable municipal/regional funding and whole‑of‑community coordination.

3. Governance for Crete

3.1 Regional Integration Steering Committee (R‑ISC)

Chair: Vice‑Governor for Social Policy
Members: Regional Directorates (Education, Health, Housing/Urban Planning, Employment), DYPA, Municipal reps (Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Lasithi), Regional Observatory, HDA, Chambers, CSOs/migrant‑led orgs, UNHCR/IOM liaison.
Mandate: Strategy oversight; inter‑municipal coordination; funding mobilization; MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning) ownership. Quarterly meetings; annual regional forum. Aligns with EU multi‑stakeholder approach.  

3.2 Thematic Working Groups (TWGs)

• Education & Language (Regional Education Directorate + NGOs)

• Employment & Skills (DYPA + Chambers)

• Health & Wellbeing (Regional Health Authority + providers)

• Housing & Urban Inclusion (Regional Planning + municipalities)

Each TWG co‑led with migrant representatives, reflecting WHOLE‑COMM’s whole‑of‑community logic.

3.3 Regional Migrant Advisory Council (R‑MAC)

Structured representation drawn from municipal migrant councils/SEMPs and EMVI‑LII cohorts; statutory advisory rights to R‑ISC; co‑design role in programme reviews.

3.4 City‑Region Links

Leverage Cities Network for Integration (CNI) for joint trainings, tools, and exchanges across Heraklion & Chania (and beyond).

4. Strategic Objectives (2026–2030)

1. Education & Language: Universal school access; comprehensive adult language pathways; teacher/youth‑worker training.

2. Employment & Skills: Fast track to skills recognition, job‑matching, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship in key sectors (tourism/hospitality, agri‑food, construction, care).  

3. Health & Mental Health: Navigation support, culturally competent care, and trauma‑informed services island‑wide.

4. Housing & Urban Inclusion: Increase access to adequate, affordable, non‑segregated housing; anti‑discrimination enforcement.

5. Participation & Cohesion: Institutionalize migrant participation; counter hate speech; expand intercultural community programmes.

6. Evidence, Alliances & Funding: Build robust regional data systems; secure multi‑year blended financing.

5. Programmes

5.1 Education & Language

E1 – ECEC & School Inclusion (Island‑wide): Reserve places; bilingual mediators; transport solutions for rural areas; after‑school tutoring in Heraklion/Chania.
E2 – Adult Language Pathways (A1→B2): Modular courses with workplace Greek for tourism/hospitality (Chania, Rethymno), agri‑food (Lasithi), and construction (Heraklion); digital learning; childcare support.
E3 – Teacher & Youth Worker Training: Intercultural competence; trauma‑informed practice; Erasmus+ exchanges; delivered via Regional Education Directorate.

KPIs by 2030: 95% school‑age newcomers enrolled within 3 months; 60% of adult participants reach B1 in 18 months; 800 educators trained.

5.2 Employment & Skills

Em1 – Skills Assessment & Recognition Hub (Heraklion): One‑stop service for audits, recognition guidance, micro‑credentials; DYPA & Chambers lead.
Em2 – Sector Compacts & Job‑Matching: MOUs with hotels/tourism clusters (Chania/Rethymno), agri‑coops (Lasithi), construction firms (Heraklion); inclusive recruitment charter; career fairs.
Em3 – Apprenticeships & Upskilling: ESF+ funded dual training; digital & green skills modules; language‑integrated VET.
Em4 – Entrepreneurship & Social Economy: Region‑backed incubator in Heraklion; micro‑grants; mentorship (link UNHCR/partners).

KPIs: 70% job placement within 9 months for programme completers; 400 foreign qualifications recognized annually; 150 migrant‑led businesses supported.

5.3 Health & Mental Health

H1 – Health Navigation & Interpretation: Multilingual navigation desks in regional hospitals; interpreter pools; vaccination & maternity outreach.
H2 – Culturally Competent Care: Training for providers; women’s health services; community health mediators.
H3 – Psychosocial Support Network: Trauma‑informed counselling; youth/family wellbeing; referral pathways (link ESTIA/SIL alumni and municipal KEMs).

KPIs: 85% of eligible newcomers registered with a GP within 60 days; 800 clients receive MH support annually; 500 providers trained.

5.4 Housing & Urban Inclusion

Ho1 – Affordable Housing Access: Allocation within municipal stock; rent‑deposit guarantees; partnerships with associations & landlords; anti‑discrimination enforcement.
Ho2 – Anti‑Segregation & Spatial Monitoring: Regional Observatory tracks clustering; mixed‑tenure planning in growth areas (Heraklion periphery, Rethymno corridors).
Ho3 – Innovative Models: Social leasing; co‑op housing; modular units tied to integration pathways; lessons from ESTIA legacy apartments.

KPIs: 700 households access affordable rentals annually; segregation index down 20% in priority neighbourhoods; 200 units via innovative schemes.

5.5 Participation, Anti‑Discrimination & Cohesion

P1 – R‑MAC & Civic Leadership: Formalize Regional Migrant Advisory Council; civic literacy; participatory budgeting pilots (municipal).
P2 – Intercultural Events & Dialogues: Annual “Crete Integration Week” rotating across the four units; neighbourhood dialogues; sports/arts programmes.
P3 – Hate Speech Prevention & Response: Regional code of conduct; reporting mechanisms; campaigns with local media.

KPIs: 500 residents complete civic training; 15,000 participants in annual events; 50% rise in reported & resolved anti‑discrimination cases.

6. Funding Plan (2026–2030)

EU/National Lines:

• AMIF (governance; participation; integration measures).  

• ESF+ (employment/skills; social inclusion).  

• ERDF (housing & urban inclusion).

• Erasmus+ (teacher/youth training).

Regional co‑funding: Multi‑annual LIS budget line; Includ‑EU/AMIF experience via Regional Observatory for Social Inclusion to anchor pilots and exchanges.

Blended finance: Public–private partnerships with tourism & agri‑food sectors; social impact arrangements for innovative housing; UNHCR technical cooperation (MoUs).

7. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

Data System: Regional Observatory leads a shared dashboard; integrates Ministry monthly stats and ELSTAT migration flows; municipal service data (KEMs).

Process:

• Quarterly R‑ISC reviews; annual public report.

• Independent mid‑term (2028) and final (2030) evaluations.

• Participatory MEL: R‑MAC co‑defines indicators; focus groups; surveys (WHOLE‑COMM toolbox as reference).

• Learning: Share practices via CNI and EU networks; publish lessons and adapt annually.

8. Risk Management

• Arrival spikes & capacity stress (as in July 2025): standby reception plans; rapid transfer protocols; surge staffing.

• Housing constraints: diversify stock; social leasing; landlord incentives; robust anti‑discrimination.

• Labour market mismatch: sector compacts, reskilling, recognition hub.

• Polarization/misinformation: proactive communication; dialogues; media charter.

• Data gaps: invest in dashboard & inter‑agency data sharing.