Messages from the cities

Mayors and the City Councils' representatives from participating cities speak about the importance of IncluCities.

Eight partners in the city-to-city mentoring process will work together, exchange ideas, best practices and develop strategies for better integration practices on the ground. From Jelgava to Partinico, and from Fuenlabrada to Livadia, with City of Brussels, Schaerbeek and Mechelen in between.

Meet our mayors and city councils' representatives and learn about their expectations and goals.

Pietro Puccio, PARTINICO

CEMR spokesperson on migration, Proxy of Partinico & Mayor of Capaci (Sicily, Italy)

 

"For the Municipality of Partinico, the participation in IncluCities project represents the opportunity to create a territory of multicultural dialogue, shifting the focus from reception, seen as emergency management, to the structuring of real and valid inclusion processes for immigrants stabilized in our country. Social integration must then be considered, first of all, as a long-lasting process whose foundations must be laid, in the awareness that its results can involve not only the first but also the second or even the third generation of migration. The issue of integrating "new citizens" into society is configured as an increasingly urgent issue which, in order to be addressed, needs to be "thought" and intentionally designed. In fact, it is not possible to imagine that the paths of social integration of those who introduce themselves in a new context are the outcome of randomness or fortuitous circumstances. In this context, collaboration between cities experiencing migration phenomena in order to share common and uniform methods and policies of integration appears to be of great value."

Gabriella de Francesco, MECHELEN   

Alderwoman authorized for Diversity & Equal Chances, City Council of Mechelen (Belgium)

  *Read the interview

"Mechelen is known for its inclusive approach where we see diversity as a strength and solidarity as a must. At the same time, this remains a topic of major challenges in a world where we are facing increasing polarisation, inequality and structural forms of racism and discrimination. Going into dialogue with fellow local authorities is both enriching in finding answers, and an important moment to question your own policies. I'm really looking forward to it."

Christophe Chaillou, SAINT-JEAN-DE-LA-RUELLE

Mayor od Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle (France)

 "Embracing values of solidarity and deeply committed to Europe, Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle is a welcoming and open municipality. We are happy to participate in the IncluCities project and have the opportunity to exchange with other European towns and cities on how to improve reception and integration of migrants."

Philippe Close, CITY OF BRUSSELS 

Mayor City of Brussels (Belgium)

"I am very proud that the City of Brussels has been selected as a mentor city! Brussels Capital Region is a world city, the capital of 500 million Europeans and counts on its territory more than 180 nationalities in a mosaic of districts with contrasting atmospheres.  This cosmopolitanism goes hand in hand with an immense cultural wealth, which is constantly being exploited through the harmony that reigns between the different communities. Inclusiveness is in the DNA of our city, and as such we welcome the opportunity to share our experience and learn from others”

Javier Ayala Ortega, FUENLABRADA

Mayor of Fuenlabrada (Spain)

"Our main goal is that Fuenlabrada becomes the European symbol of an open and inclusive city, thanks to our social policies through participation and empowerment of our citizens.”

Vincent Vanhalewyn, SCHAERBEEK

1st Alderman of Schaerbeek City Mayoral College and Aldermen and President of VIA - the Support Office for Newcomers (Belgium)

"Our society is in perpetual change, at the forefront of these transformations, today are ecology and living together. These are the two great fundamental movements that are changing our societies and our lifestyles; they are perhaps the two great universal issues of the moment. Hence, the importance of projects such as IncluCities, which allow the sharing of good practices and mutual support between municipalities."

Andris Rāviņš, JELGAVA

Chairman of Jelgava city council  (Latvia)

“The main goal for participation in IncluCities is to improve the integration of citizens of developing countries in the city of Jelgava by    working with municipalities of equivalent cities from other European countries. From this cooperation, we hope to use examples of      good practices for an action plan, directed towards education and language training, active participation and social inclusion in            creating more united society.” 

Ioannis D. Tagalegas, LIVADIA

Mayor of Livadia (Greece)

“Through the participation in IncluCities, Livadia will obtain the necessary knowledge for implementing good practices of the full integration of refugees in the social and economic life. At the same time, (with IncluCities) we will acquire the knowledge for eliminating possible prejudices and biases that may exist in local society and to cultivate an intercultural productive dialogue among locals and newcomers. 

Furthermore, the interaction with other cities is vital, not only because this interaction enhances the collaboration among the EU member states, but mainly because the results and the conclusions of our joint work could be a good guidance and the road map for other European cities in the future.”