Chaired by the City of Rotterdam, the Forum currently has more than 70 members.

It provides a platform for policy and project development and for the exchange of expertise / good practice on social issues. The work of this forum promotes the role of cities as driving forces for social cohesion and social inclusion and for issues relating to employment, housing and anti-discrimination. The Department for Youth, Social Welfare, Health and Schools of the City of Leipzig takes actively part in the work of the Forum.

International projects of the members include issues relating to the integration of ethnic minorities, employment strategies and the development of anti-discrimination strategies.

On 3 July 2008 the Green Paper “Migration and Mobility – Challenges and Opportunities for the EU Education Systems” was published by the European Commission. EUROCITIES will contribute to this consultation because education is the most important resource for integration and social inclusion. Also in centralised national education systems local authorities play an important role in improving the learning conditions.

Currently, the Forum consists of the following working groups:

• Employment
  
• Health and Well-being
  
• Homelessness
  
• Housing
  
• Education
  
• Migration and Integration
  
• Social Inclusion
  
• Urban Security
  

Leipzig re-joined the Forum in November 2002.

for matters relating to Leipzig's contributions in the Forum:

Department for Youth, Social Welfare, Health and Schools, City of Leipzig

Nicole Brodowski

Phone: +49 0341 123-4308
E-Mail: nicole.brodowski@leipzig.de