Attended by more than 150 participants, the fourth EUROCITIES Integrating Cities conference is one of the year's largest debates on migrant integration in the capita, with keynote speeches by Boris Johnson and Diane Schmitt, Head of Immigration Unit at the European Commission's Directorate General for Justice, Freedom and Security.

It includes the launch and signing of the Integrating Cities Charter, which underlines the commitment of Europe's cities and mayors in addressing migrant integration through their roles as policymakers, service providers, buyers of goods and services and employers.

The Mayor said: 'London is a city shaped and enriched by the people who have come here from all corners of the globe. Our history is not only English, but is also the history of the Italians, French, Scandinavians, Jews, Jamaicans, Irish, Asians, and countless more.

'It is then fitting that London should be at the forefront of work to enable migrants to play a full and rich part in our society. Only by embracing the skill, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurialism of all of our residents – regardless of their place of birth – will London, and Europe, emerge from the global downturn stronger, brighter, and ready for the future.'

Newly appointed European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, has sent a message to the conference participants: 'Integration is a responsibility to be shared between immigrants and host societies, as well as between different levels of governance. The European Commission supports local governance initiatives because it is at local level that stakeholders develop contacts and forge relationships. With the signature of this Charter, the 'Integrating Cities' process has produced an ambitious outcome that I will be happy to promote within a new EU strategy on integration based on the common policy framework provided by the Lisbon Treaty and the Stockholm Programme.'

London, a city where at least 300 languages are spoken, is already at the forefront of measures aimed at integrating migrants and addressing social exclusion for all Londoners.

Last year the Mayor published Equal Life Chances for All, a framework to ensure all Londoners are able to participate and contribute to the life of the capital. London Enriched, also published in 2009, is the Mayor's strategy for promoting integration for refugees, developed with the London Strategic Migration Partnership. The Mayor wants there to be better ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) provision across London as a key to integration.

Other strategies and initiatives aimed at tackling social exclusion include the draft Health Inequalities Strategy, business and employment initiatives such as Diversity Works for London, CompeteFor and measures to boost apprenticeships. The Mayor has directed the London Development Agency and London Skills and Employment Board to pay particular attention to the most vulnerable Londoners in the wake of the recession, but all strategies and policies, from transport, to housing, to food have been designed to benefit all Londoners in an integrated way.

The GLA also commissioned research that showed a potential economic benefit of regularising an estimated 300,000 people who have lived, worked and remained law abiding in London for over five years.

Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, who is chairing today's conference, commented: 'I am proud of the practical measures London is putting in place to enable migrants to participate and contribute to the future success of our city and that the capital is one of the first signatories of this charter. Migrants will have an important part to play in the future success of Europe as it emerges from the global downturn and it underlines each of our cities' commitment to ensure their skills, enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism do not go to waste.'