NECE Lab Zagreb: Navigating polarisation around labour migration in CESEE

October 27, 2026
By Maja Kurilic

From 29 September to 1 October 2026, around 40 participants from ten countries met in Zagreb for the NECE Lab “Navigating polarisation around labour migration in CESEE“. The three-day Lab was organised by THE CIVICS Innovation Hub with Znanje na djelu and the New Community Foundation. It brought together civil society representatives and researchers, along with speakers from public institutions, the private sector and EU-level policy organisations.

Why this topic, why now

Central and Southeastern European countries are shifting from emigration to immigration countries. Demographic decline and emigration are creating labour gaps that are increasingly filled by workers from outside Europe, particularly Southeast Asia. This shift raises questions about integration, diversity and social cohesion, and public debate is often polarised. Civil society organisations are central to integration at the local level, yet they rarely get to exchange with researchers, public authorities and employers. The Lab aimed to create that space.

Day 1: Framing the topic

The first day opened with the EU perspective. Iris Goldner Lang (Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb) explained that migration policy is shaped at EU level, but member states keep the right to decide how many third-country workers they admit. The result is a patchwork of rules for specific groups, such as Blue Card holders and single permit holders. Jasmijn Slootjes (Migration Policy Institute Europe) described a shift “from directives to ecosystems”, with new tools such as the EU Talent Pool linking migration to skills and competitiveness. She pointed to the fragmentation of policies, the overlooked role of employers, and the often-neglected question of long-term integration.

Researchers Caroline Hornstein Tomić (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Croatia), Alexandra Czeglèdi (Periféria Policy and Research Center, Hungary) and Remus Gabriel Anghel (National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania) then shared findings on labour migration in their respective countries. In the afternoon, the New Community Foundation from Poland led two dialogue workshops. In the first, a small group of participants talked about how moving for work features in their own lives, while the others listened, creating space for personal reflection, sharing experiences and fostering empathy. The second introduced practical facilitation principles and tools participants can use in their own communities.

Day 2: Polarisation, stakeholders and dialogue in practice

A cross-sector roundtable brought together Goran Momčilović (City of Zagreb), Rita Magalhães (MEERU), Nejra Kadić Meškić (Centre for Cultural Dialogue), Marko Pekčec (Manpower) and Jasmijn Slootjes (Migration Policy Institute Europe). Each shared the view from their own sector, and all stressed that a shared understanding of labour migration must be built through regular exchange between sectors. Participants then continued in smaller facilitated groups, looking at narratives and tensions around labour migration and at the missing connections between key actors. The discussion showed how differently each sector sees the issue: employers want access to workers, while the state ultimately has to organise and finance integration. A clear need emerged for regular spaces where all sectors can talk to each other.

The afternoon field trips showed integration at the local level. Two groups visited two Zagreb City Libraries, where volunteers teach Croatian. Another visited the Jesuit Refugee Service. A third visited a restaurant run by an entrepreneur who moved from Sri Lanka to Zagreb and built a life there.

Day 3: From insight to local action

On the final day, participants revisited the insights of the previous days and worked in thematic groups. Using a “Local Action Canvas”, each group developed an idea for a follow-up activity in its own community, such as a dialogue format and a workshop to create better understanding and reduce polarization. They defined target groups, key messages and first steps.

* NECE is financially supported by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education | bpb and led by THE CIVICS Innovation Hub.

** This event is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.