During a European Committee of the Regions (CoR) plenary debate on Ukraine with Ukrainian Mayors, EPP-CoR members called for further partnerships between EU and Ukrainian cities and regions and for further mobilisation of EU funds as well as flexibility of their use to support Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) helping refugees.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the CoR and President of Central Macedonia (Greece) said “Mayors are the building blocks of democracy, and the building blocks of the European future of Ukraine. We pay homage today to their courage and their strength, and we pay respect for the thousands of victims and for those who will have to live with the memory of the atrocities they witnessed and experienced in their home towns, on the streets and their neighbourhoods.”
Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Chair of the CoR WG on Ukraine and Mayor of Gdansk (Poland) spoke on the importance of partnerships. “Partnerships are key – we have plenty of cities/regions that could have a partner in Ukraine. Gdansk has a sister city – Mariupol and we are doing what we can to help them.”
Olgierd Geblewicz, President of the EPP-CoR Group and President of West Pomerania Region (Poland) said “The EPP-CoR supports the call for further direct links between EU and Ukrainian cities and regions. We will mobilize our communities and residents to offer further humanitarian aid. We also call for intensive help from the EU both to Ukraine and to all those who look after refugees.”
Alin Adrian Nica, President of Timiş County Council (Romania) said that Timiș County allocated funds to the Red Cross in Ukraine, facilitated the transport of mobile camps for refugees to be installed in the Romanian counties bordering Ukraine, welcomed and integrated refugees who chose to stay in Timiș, took steps to integrate Ukrainian children in schools and is helping refugees enter the labour market.
Mieczysław Struk, President of Pomeranian Region (Poland) said “We need to equip NGOs and local/regional governments with additional funds to enable them to cope with the crisis. I call on the EU to mobilise further funds for refugees and programs for cross-border and transnational cooperation.” He suggested the introduction of 100% co-financing from EU funds, which will allow full participation in aid activities for NGOs. He also spoke on the need to redirect funds from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, originally directed to projects with the participation of Russia and Belarus. In this regard he said “Funds released should be used to provide assistance to refugees, in particular to Ukrainian citizens.”
Ionel Ovidiu Bogdan, President of Maramureş County Council (Romania) said that almost 200 Ukrainian children have already been integrated into the education system and efforts were being made by local entrepreneurs to help refugees enter the job market. He remarked “For these measures to be sustainable, we also need direct European financial support to our regions and cities, because our resources are limited.”
Franz Schausberger, Representative of Salzburg (Austria) said “Decentralisation of Ukraine has modernised the country considerable. Self-administration has been strengthened. Ukraine wouldn’t be that strong and could not have resisted the war without such reforms.” He called on regions to establish partnerships to help Ukrainian counterparts reconstruct their historical heritage.
Sergio Caci, Mayor of Montalto di Castro (Italy) said “The appeals from Ukrainian mayors are heart-breaking and it is our job to listen to them and not disappoint them. A just Europe welcomes refugees and helps them and this is what we are doing.”
Hana Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź (Poland) said “Polish cities need immediate and systemic actions as well as dedicated funds that will allow us to respond to the most urgent needs of Ukrainian refugees – education, social care and accommodation. Without simplification of procedures we will not be able to help them properly in the long-term. We need solutions here and now.”
Eleni Loucaidou, Deputy Mayor of Nicosia said “We Cypriots, can fully understand the ordeal the Ukrainian people are going through, having been the victims of an invasion ourselves, with 37% of our territory still under occupation. In the case of Ukraine I am particularly satisfied with the swift and decisive reaction of the EU against the brutal violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia has to be stopped as quickly as possible.”