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ools, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, has called for increased support for Ukraine to help that country through its heating and electricity crisis:
"Urgent technical assistance could help protect Ukrainian civilians from devastating consequences of the Russian Federation's attacks … Together with the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe and in partnership with the Ukrainian associations of local and regional authorities, I am issuing this call for mobilisation to support our Ukrainian peers."
He also listed a number of Ukrainian associations involved in that work.
Local and regional partnerships
Marc Cools also restated that one way to help would be via the Cities4Cities initiative. This is a platform, which was initiated by the Congress shortly after the start of the full-fledged war in 2022, and which works to link up local authorities in Ukraine with partner communes in other parts of Europe. The idea is to provide expertise and infrastructure support to communities in Ukraine struggling with the conditions imposed on them by war.
The initiative has been successful. Already up to 80 municipalities in France, Germany, Poland and Sweden have been matched up with a partner in Ukraine. They are committed to long-term assistance and cooperation. Partnerships include Slavutych's with Franconville in France and Kherson's with the Swedish city of Norrköping. There are over 100 Ukrainian local authorities eager to get involved currently so there is scope for a lot more twinning and solidarity. As Mark Cools summarised, help by communities outside Ukraine, "beyond the practical value … will serve as another strong solidarity action with Ukrainian people for our common European future."
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Congress issues call to action: help Ukrainian communities
New online platform matches cities in Ukraine with European cities that can provide help
