20 Sep, 2023
The biennial Summit of Regions and Cities, organised by the European Committee of the Regions, took place in Marseille (France) on 3-4 March, as the largest event of the French Presidency with over 2000 participants and top representatives from the EU institutions and national governments. In light of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the Summit focused on how EU regions and municipalities can provide support to Ukrainian refugees and to Ukrainian subnational authorities.
Renew Europe Group members and several key members of the Renew Europe family such as Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, Renew Europe’s CoR President François Decoster, Mayor of Saint-Omer (FR), Vincent Chauvet, Mayor of Autun (FR), Renew Europe Group President Stéphane Séjourné MEP (LREM, FR) and Guy Verhofstadt MEP (Open VLD, BE) participated in the Summit.
Decoster and Verhofstadt participated in the round table “Building blocks of European Democracy”, where they shared their views on the recent developments.
“At the Summit of Regions and Cities to highlight the role of the local and regional politicians in our European democracy. We are sliding into a new world, it is urgent to reinforce the territorial foundations of the Union and strengthen their roots as close as possible to citizens,” declared Decoster.
Au #sommetvillesetregions pour rappeler le rôle des élus #locaux et #régionaux dans notre #démocratie européenne.
— François DECOSTER (@fdecoster) March 4, 2022
Nous basculons dans un nouveau monde: il est urgent de renforcer les fondations territoriales de l’Union et d’en renforcer l’ancrage local au plus près des citoyens. pic.twitter.com/diwrjUvtIU
“In Marseille at the European Summit of Regions & Cities, a dramatic appeal for help by Mayors of Kyiv, Kharkiv & Mariupol. Putin doesn’t fight the Ukrainian army; he wants to eradicate the population. Full Swift sanctions, total ban of Russian gas & more military equipment urgently needed!” asserted Verhofstadt.
In Marseille at the 🇪🇺 summit of Regions & Cities, a dramatic appeal for help by Mayors of Kyiv, Kharkiv & Mariupol.
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) March 4, 2022
Putin doesn’t fight the 🇺🇦 army, he wants to eradicate the population.
Full Swift sanctions, total ban of Russian gas & more military equipment urgently needed! pic.twitter.com/Lui1IoL7jq
The city of Autun, France, was one of the first to host Ukrainian refugees. Its Mayor and Renew Europe CoR’s member Chauvet spoke to several media about this development and how he and his city are helping these refugees.
