Bratislava has approved a new strategy to support people with a foreign background living in the city. Instead of relying on short-term or crisis measures, officials say the aim is to create a more coordinated, long-term approach to integration and inclusion. The document was prepared by the city in cooperation with the Centre for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture (CVEK), and developed in consultation with migrant communities, other NGOs, international organisations, city districts and state institutions.
According to Dominika Nagyová, head of the department supporting people with a foreign background at Bratislava City Hall, around 100,000 foreign residents currently live in the capital. She says the strategy focuses on key priority areas such as better data collection, education, youth support, social services, community life and culture, as well as access to employment and business opportunities. It is also described as the city’s first comprehensive framework dedicated specifically to foreign residents.
Concrete measures are expected to follow through action plans, with implementation likely to begin as early as this year. The strategy also builds on the city’s recent experience in providing support services. From April 2022 to September 2024, Bratislava operated a large assistance centre on Bottova Street in response to the war in Ukraine. Last year, the city moved to a more sustainable model by opening the LOOM centre on Česká Street, which now provides support not only to Ukrainians, but to all foreign residents in the capital.
Source: TASR
