Please note that this event is in-person only, with the exception of CEPS Members who may request a link to follow virtually.
The Network of Afghanistan Diaspora Organisations in Europe (NADOE), together with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), is organising an event on 19 June 2025 focusing on the experiences of integration by the Afghanistani diaspora in Brussels and situating these within broader European Union policy debates on migration, integration, and diaspora engagement. This event is supported by the City of Brussels through its international solidarity programme Réduire les inégalités : sensibilisations des acteurs locaux par des organisations dirigées par des réfugiés.
Brussels, as both a local city and the capital of the European Union, hosts a diverse and dynamic Afghanistani community. This includes families, students, professionals, asylum seekers and recognised refugees, many of whom have rebuilt their lives here while maintaining strong transnational ties. Yet challenges persist: stable housing, access to the labour market, recognition of qualifications and social inclusion remain key issues that mirror integration challenges faced by Afghanistani diaspora communities across Europe.
The aim of this event is to listen, share and reflect, offering an honest picture of the lived experiences of Afghanistanies in Brussels while connecting these narratives to EU-level integration efforts. Such efforts include the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion (2021–2027), the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, and the EU’s renewed attention to diaspora engagement under its external action instruments. Through personal testimonies, policy discussions and contributions from civil society, we hope to stimulate debate and generate practical insights for improving integration pathways, not only in Brussels, but in urban contexts across the EU. Special attention will be paid to the role of local authorities, refugee-led organisations and European institutions in fostering inclusive societies and policy coherence. At the same time, the event will highlight the Afghanistani diaspora’s dual role: as contributors to local integration and as transnational actors engaged in development and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. By bringing together local authorities, EU institutions, civil society and diaspora voices, the dialogue aims to strengthen multi-level cooperation and promote a more cohesive European approach to integration – one that recognises cities like Brussels as vital hubs of inclusion and international connectivity.
The event will be followed by an Afghanistani culinary reception and informal networking from 17:00-18:00
Organised in collaboration with Network of Afghanistan Diaspora Organisations in Europe (NADOE) and with support from the City of Brussels.
