EU local and regional leaders: The fight for Ukraine's democracy is the fight for Europe's democracy

President Macron and President Metsola address 3,000 local and regional leaders who adopt Marseille Manifesto setting demands on the future of the EU. During the 9th European Summit of Cities and Regions in Marseille, local and regional leaders from across Europe were united in their support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and committed to supporting the Ukrainian people. With the war in Ukraine showing democracy cannot be taken for granted, the Marseille Manifesto adopted by the Summit sets out its demands to put citizens at the heart of European democracy.
#eulocal #sommetvilletetregions #Ukraine
In Marseille, awarding Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kiev, with the honorary membership of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Governor of the Greek Region of Central Macedonia, said: "Three thousand people in Marseille and 1.2 million EU regional and local leaders, stand with Ukraine and against Russia's invasion. We are united to help our neighbours, tackle the climate emergency, battle extremism and promote territorial cohesion. Our Marseille Manifesto calls for a Europe that protects and improves the lives of citizens. It's time for a stronger EU democracy that puts people in every region, city and village at its very heart."

President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, whose speech was delivered by President Muselier during the Summit, said, " At a time when France and Europe are taking decisions of resolute support and massive sanctions, I know that European territories display the same strength, the same unity. It is you, who carry through our territories, these values ​​which are constitutive of our Europe, those which make us a power of peace, a power at the service of freedom and justice. The Southern Appeal for Ukraine launched jointly by the European Committee of the Regions and its President Apostolos Tzitzkostas, and President Muselier, is an important humanitarian reinforcement. Placed under the high patronage of the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, and of the European Commission, this initiative counts and will count in the days to come. Together we show the best faces of Europe. A united, close, fair, democratic Europe. It is this Europe for which, today, the people of Ukraine are resisting and fighting for. The European Union and its Member States need their territories in these troubled times. These times show how much we need to strengthen our European sovereignty. Local authorities have their place in this common work. "

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, attended the Summit and stressed: " Regions and cities are the beating heart of our Union. There is a clear role for regional and local governments in assuring that fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are present in the everyday life of EU citizens. We know how important local mayors and governors of regions are in promoting and caring for our common project, our shared values and principles. We cannot give in to complacency. We must remain vigilant. Our European House of Democracy is precious. We will protect it."

The Summit’s Declaration on Ukraine calls on the EU to fully support Ukrainian refugees. The Declaration strongly condemns the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine and calls the EU to urgently grant Ukrainian citizens leaving the country the refugee status under EU Asylum Law.

Although the war in Ukraine dominated debate, the two-day Summit held wide-ranging discussions on the future of Europe, post-pandemic recovery and cohesion, key elements of the Manifesto adopted at the end of the Summit. The Marseille Manifesto contains proposals to strengthen the EU's democratic legitimacy including calling for its regions, cities and municipalities to be gradually upgraded - through the European Committee of the Regions - beyond its current consultative function towards a binding role in a limited number of policy areas with a clear territorial dimension while avoiding additional complexity in the EU.