OPENCities was originally developed as a concept by the British Council to identify what makes a city open and attractive to international migrants.  Now, with funding from URBACT, the OPENCities project includes 10 partner cities across Europe. 

Cities that want to attract and retain international populations have to be 'open' cities that create a good ‘offer’ for international workers and foster a local climate that recognises and welcomes diversities and provides freedom of thought and speech. 

The project will consider how cities can develop more proactive policies to create OPENCities to better attract or retain mobile international populations, which are important to both the competitive and convergence objectives of the European Union.