APProach

With the project APProach, Milan has substantially strengthened its work on the inclusion of mobile EU citizens by working strongly on awareness-raising activities to help EUMCs be informed about their rights and opportunities for participation in the life of the city. APProach has led to two very important campaigns (2019 European Parliament elections and 2021 local elections) and the tools developed have contributed substantially to involving individual EUMCs living in Milan and stakeholders such as Consulates of EU countries , the private sector (relocation agencies, law firms, etc.), schools and universities, Erasmus student networks, thus leading to the creation of a very important network of actors. 

Visit the website of Approach.

Freedom of movement for its citizens is one of the fundamental aspects of the European Union, so much so that it has become, since the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, a basic element of the concept of "European citizenship". European citizens who reside in another State of the Union are called "mobile European citizens", and it is to them that the APProach project is aimed.

The project, which has now been concluded, lasted 36 months and was coordinated by ALDA (Association des agences de la democratie locale) in partnership with Commune d'Etterbeek (Belgium), Municipality of Milan, Dimos Neas Smyrni (Greece), Ville de Paris (France), Vejle kommune (Denmark), Camara municipal de Lisboa and with the participation of the Cities of Amsterdam and Warsaw as observer cities. It aims to better include mobile European citizens (EUMC) within the cities where they reside, focusing in particular on the challenges that public administrations face towards them. The three areas on which APProach intervened, and which closely concern the EUMC, are access to voting, school enrollment and active participation in the life of the city.

The objectives of the project can be summarized in three points:

  • Make it easier to find information and guidelines for promoting the exercise of the right of free movement of European citizens;
  • Analyze the challenges facing public administrations in relation to EUMCs;
  • Propose valid solutions to the latter.

The objectives of the project are pursued through multiple actions, which each of the partners will have to implement.

  • Participation in the exchange of good practices within the partnership, also hosting a Project Meeting with this objective
  • Organization of focus groups at local level with mobile European citizens and municipal staff working in contact with them
  • Development of a digital ecosystem, also including a dedicated app and an online platform, to circulate updated information intended for EUMCs - current and future - so as to facilitate the exercise of the right of free movement. In particular, the contents will be published both in the language of each partner and in English
  • Promotion of active civic participation among mobile citizens residing in all areas involved in the project
  • Training for municipal staff working with EUMCs

The expected results of the project will be:

  • The creation of a solid consortium between cities on issues related to mobile citizens
  • The development of new direct communication channels between Municipalities and EUMC, creating synergies with the local networks already present
  • An evaluation of the efficiency of available services
  • Exchange of best practices between the subjects that make up the partnership
  • The development of a digital ecosystem useful for disseminating the guidelines relating to EUMCs and involving them more in the life of cities
  • A final evaluation of the impact of the project and the effectiveness of the digital ecosystem created
  • Training for both local authorities and mobile European citizens regarding the use of the developed app
  • Promotion of active European citizenship

Awareness campaign for the EUMC vote in the 2021 local administrative elections
We are Europeans, let's vote in Milan!

Citizens originating from a European Union country and residing in Milan have the right to vote and to choose its own representatives. Just present to the Mayor application for registration on the electoral lists within 40 days before the electoral consultation.

To facilitate the exercise of the right to vote, the Municipality of Milan has simplified and digitalised the procedures for registering on the electoral lists.

To subscribe simple steps on the portal of the Municipality of Milan are enough for the electoral lists.
Bring your identity card and submit your application:

  • online on the portal of the Municipality of Milan, by registering or logging in with your SPID ID at the following here

Or fill out the attached form and submit it:

  • via email, sending it to DSC.ElettoraleAire@comune.milano.it; 
  • by mail, sending it to the Electoral Office of the Municipality of Milan, Via Messina 52/54, 20154 Milan
  • in person at the Electoral Office from Monday to Friday, from 08 to 30 and from 12 to 00.

After registering on the lists, you will be given the electoral card with the indication of the polling station where you will vote on the days of the electoral consultation.

Awareness campaign for the EUMC vote in the 2019 European Parliament elections
Are you a European citizen in Milan?

If you want to vote for the Italian candidates for the European Parliament, make a request to the Municipality of Milan by 25 February 2019.
If you want to vote in Milan for the European Parliament candidates of your country of origin, register at your Consulate.

Updated: 23/08/2022