Building bridges: We-ID partners gather in Zagreb to connect research with practice
From 25 to 27 February 2026, the We-ID Consortium convened in Zagreb, Croatia, for three days of intensive exchange combining scholarly insights with field-based learning. Hosted by the Ivo Pilar Institute, the Croatian project partner, the gathering brought together researchers from across Europe to present research progress, conduct field visits to organisations working directly with migrants and refugees, and discuss methodological approaches across the project’s interconnected work packages.
Mapping patterns and drivers of social trust
The consortium examined the following emerging findings, analysing European patterns of identity, cohesion and resilience drawing on large-scale datasets:
- Two types of trust: Institutional trust tends to fluctuate in response to political developments, while social trust appears more stable and operates in a counter-cyclical manner. When trust in institutions declines, social trust among citizens often strengthens.
- National variation: Data from the European Social Survey revealed significant variation across countries. While Nordic countries show relatively homogeneous levels of trust, countries such as Greece display much greater internal variation, underscoring the importance of looking beyond national averages.
Understanding migrant political participation and identity
Our project strand focusing on migrants and ethnic minorities shared findings on the relationship between social identity and political participation:
- Attitudes shift over time: Negative perceptions towards migrants tend to fade the longer individuals reside in a host country, with distinct patterns emerging across newly arrived migrants, descendants, and native populations.
- Trust among newcomers: Political trust in governmental structures appears highest among newly arrived migrants, raising questions about how integration processes and lived experiences shape democratic engagement over time.
Exploring identity, resilience and belonging
Discussions on the strand examining these themes in Bulgaria, as a frontline migration country, highlighted the centrality of freedom among migrants as a recurring concern in interviews and survey responses.
Field visits: Understanding integration in practice
The Zagreb meeting included three field visits that offered direct insights into practical challenges and strategies.
- Service recipients: Ukrainians constitute the largest group (around 20,000), whilst asylum seekers represent the smallest group. Labour migrants form an increasingly significant category.
- Migration routes: Croatia’s strategic location on the Balkan migration route continues to shape dynamics, though overall arrivals via this route have dropped by approximately 70 %.
- Labour migration trends: Croatia has been issuing approximately 200,000 new work permits annually without clear regulatory frameworks. Most labour migrants originate from neighbouring Western Balkan countries (Bosnia, Serbia, Northern Macedonia), though increasing numbers come from the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India (predominantly male workers).
- Integration challenges: A persistent tension exists between the responsibilities of service providers and those of employers. As one staff member observed, “with bigger numbers of immigrants, fears are growing”, pointing to the dichotomy between negative public narratives and the labour market’s clear need for migrant labour.
- Future research: The Croatian consortium partner will explore new labour migrant communities in greater detail through field research in the coming months.
- Service provision: Works with all migrant groups, providing legal advice, Croatian language courses and medical support.
- Shifting patterns: Family reunifications have become increasingly prominent as Croatia transitions from a transit to a destination country.
- Service groups: Foreign workers represent the largest group served, followed by Ukrainians and asylum seekers or refugees.
- Knowledge sharing: The centre benefits from the Eurocities Network, facilitating exchange of best practices on migration management across European cities.
- Progress and challenges: Municipal budgets for these services have increased, signalling growing recognition of priority. However, significant challenges remain, particularly bureaucratic obstacles and gaps in advice on work rights. Housing regulations introduced two months prior represent a positive development.
- Community connectors: A promising pilot initiative involves training migrants themselves to serve as bridges between municipal authorities, employers and migrant communities, overcoming language barriers and raising awareness of rights and local regulations.
Ribnjak Youth Cultural Centre:
- Cultural exchange: Initiatives create spaces for interaction, such as joint Ukrainian and Croatian apple pie days and musical collaborations between foreign and Croatian musicians.
- Multiple functions: Many individuals approach the centre seeking medical care or advice, highlighting the diverse roles that community spaces serve in supporting integration.
Ongoing research and future directions
Lithuania field research update:
- Language policy shift: All Russian-language schools will be closed in the near future per governmental decree, a measure aimed at integrating the country’s largely isolated and parallel-living Russian community.
- Research questions: This development raises important questions about the relationship between language policy, integration and belonging.
First New Narratives Workshop:
- Location and timing: Plovdiv, Bulgaria, early November 2026
- Focus: Bringing together practitioners whilst ensuring migrant voices and perspectives are represented in discussions on how migration, identity and democratic resilience are framed in public discourse.
Moving forward
The Zagreb meeting reinforced the importance of connecting academic research with the realities encountered by practitioners and civil society organisations. Through direct engagement with local actors and field-based learning, the We-ID team gained a clearer understanding of how migration and diversity are experienced and negotiated in everyday life, and how research can better inform policies and practices that support inclusive and resilient communities.
For more information about the We-ID project, visit the project website or contact the consortium lead at the University of Göttingen.
