Governance and citizenship

“Cities, local communities and regions have some of the toughest jobs in Europe right now, most obviously the effort to receive and integrate people in need of international protection.” With this statement, European Council president Donald Tusk, put forward the role played by towns and regions in addressing the refugee crisis.

Donald Tusk addressed the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions on 10 February. During his intervention he recalled that local leaders are also facing the task of avoiding the creation of ghettos and assisting in the fight against radicalisation in their neighbourhoods.

To ensure a coordinated and effective response at the EU level to host refugees, Tusk called on the EU institutions and national governments to support our localities “from the Greek islands to Germany's cities; from the Mezzogiorno to Calais”.

You can read the full press statement on the Council’s website.