Declarations
Joint Call of European Mayors to European governments and the European Commission on raising efforts to end the war in Europe
Position of Polish delegation in the CoR on the situation in Ukraine
How to help
How is the European Committee of the Regions helping – and how can you contribute? Read more here.
Actions on the ground
As a result of the war in Ukraine, Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) are once again at the forefront of a crisis. EPP-led cities and regions are not only facing a refugee crisis but are standing with Ukraine and its people through humanitarian aid. The EPP-CoR Group would like to raise awareness on the situation on the ground.
Below are some measures being taken in villages, cities and regions to support refugees and those facing the war in Ukraine.
Olgierd Geblewicz, President of West Pomerania Region and President of the EPP-CoR Group
West Pomerania has to date:
•donated a fully equipped ambulance with 4 pallets filled with medical equipment to Ukraine with a total value of 250 000 PLN
•donated 3 trucks full of medical equipment
•made available 3 buildings ready to receive refugees from Ukraine
•hosted people with disabilities in the Health Resort of Kołobrzeg
•organised the solidarity-with-Ukraine protest in Szczecin
•created a municipal collection point in the region’s office (items collected with be donated to partner regions – Odessa and Mykolaiv)
•launched grants for NGO’s helping refugees
Alexandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdansk
•The city of Gdansk launched a campaign "We help Ukraine" which involves gathering requests for help and matching them with offers from individuals and organisations via a dedicated website https://ukraina.gdanskpomaga.pl
•The city of Gdansk donated medical equipment and two public transport buses to Lvów.
•Ms. Dulkiewicz also organised a large online meeting of mayors from all across Europe, on Monday, 14 March, at 13:00, to debate the war in Ukraine and propose ways to help Ukrainian partners.
Rastislav Trnka, Chairman of Košice Self – Governing Region
Košice Self-governing region (SR) is helping people fleeing the war in Ukraine as follows:
•Information stands have been set up at the railway and bus stations (Michalovce, Košice) as well as directly on the border (Vyšné Nemecké, Veľké Slemence) to help those fleeing the war.
•Volunteers offer basic humanitarian aid such as hot drinks, food and blankets on arrival.
•An information leaflet has been issued in Ukrainian with the most important information.
•An infoline was set-up for people fleeing the war to provide information in Slovak and Ukrainian about accommodation, transport connections, asylum applications, the right to employment, healthcare or education. In addition, the helpline provides psychological help.
•Free bus shuttles have been provided from the state border with Ukraine in Vyšné Nemecké and Veľké Slemence.
•Ukrainian citizens can use the services of suburban bus transport in the Košice Region free of charge.
•Emergency and asylum facilities including accommodation and canteens have been set-up.
•An online accommodation booking system has been set-up to meet needs of refugees.
•An account was opened where individuals, businesses as well as other organizations can contribute towards humanitarian aid.
•Ukrainian children are being integrated in the Slovak school system
•To coordinate and distribute necessary humanitarian assistance, the Košice Self-governing Region has set up two humanitarian aid warehouses. Beddings, food, toiletries, clothes and other forms of humanitarian help are stored, sorted out and delivered, where needed.
Ricardio Rio, Mayor of Braga
Braga joined the rally for peace in Ukraine on Saturday 12 March, an event supported by Eurocities.
Renaud Muselier, President of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
From Marseille, the twin sister of Odessa, Region Sud is channeling humanitarian aid by the "Convois pour l’Ukraine".
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of Central Macedonia (Greece)
The region of Central Macedonia in Greece is providing medical supplies.
Arnoldas Abramavičius, Municipality councillor of Zarasai
The municipality of Zarasai offered two pickup trucks to the municipality of partner city Chemerivtsi in Ukraine to be used for defense purposes in the municipality.
Michael Murphy, Mayor of Clonmel Borough District
•Clonmel Borough District organised a coffee morning in aid of Ukrainian crisis.
• As Mayor of Clonmel, Michael Murphy launched the ‘Mayoral Ukraine Relief Fund’ into which citizens can make a donation. All proceeds go to Red Cross and UNICEF. Several events are being organized around Clonmel, proceeds of which are being donated to the fund, including coffee mornings, concerts, auctions etc. Only a week into the fund, the sum of over €10,000 has been collected.
•All proceeds from the Mayor's Relief Fund will go to UNICEF Ireland and the Irish Red Cross working on the ground with emergency teams in the Ukraine.
Carlos Carvalho, Mayor of Tabuaço
•The Volunteer Fire Brigade of Tabuaço donated an ambulance to Lviv, Ukraine.
•The City Council created a Volunteer Network to help Ukrainian refugees to settle down, and assist with provision of clothes, food and administrative work.
Bruno Hranic, Mayor of Vidovec
Vidovec is collecting food and other necessities for Ukrainian refugees who are arriving at the Croatian-Hungarian border.
Ionel Bogdan, President of Maramureş County Council
Local NGO's & UNICEF together with Maramureș County Authorities are managing the first 'Blue Dot' (Integrated Center of Support for the Ukrainian Refugees) at the Ukrainian border in Sighet.
Sergio Caci, Mayor of Montalto di Castro
Montalto di Castro is promoting dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian community living in the municipality.
Csaba Borboly, President of Harghita County Council
•Strollers, baby carriers and car seats were collected for Ukrainian refugees on the occasion of Women’s Day and later transported from Harghita County to Transcarpathia (Berehove).
•The Volunteer Firefighters Association of Harghita County is involved in delivering donations and transporting refugees from Ukraine.
Adam Struzik, President of Mazovia Region
Mazovia is supporting refugees by providing:
•free and unlimited travel from the Ukrainian border to Mazovia
•night shelters in sport centers, hotels and in private flats
•help to enter the job market
•medical assistance and vaccinations for Ukrainian citizens
Furthermore, Mazovia is allowing children from Ukraine to enroll in Polish schools.
Mieczysław Struk, President of Pomeranian Region
•provided grants for NGOs helping refugees
•stopped the agreement on cooperation with the Kaliningrad District and cooperation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Polish Armed Forces and the Duma of Kaliningrad
•made Pomorskie Hospitals available to victims
•launched a special telephone line for people who want to provide help (58 326 87 40)
•offered free train rides for Ukrainians
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw
Warsaw has erected a tent which serves as a 24-hour transit point. Refugees from Ukraine are provided with accommodation, sanitary facilities, food, medical and psychological assistance. After 24 hours, refugees will leave Warsaw or will be relocated to their residence points.
Further initiatives
Those who want to to exchange good practices and showcase European solidarity can send us a short text, figures and photos of initiatives taken at epp@cor.europa.eu.
Events
14th April #EPPLocalDialogue on EU Enlargement
27th April EPP-CoR Group meeting – Debate on Ukraine
31st May #EPPLocalDialogue on Cities and Regions helping Ukraine
Multimedia