The Social Forum of the network of European cities Eurocities, which is held from May 11 to 13 under the slogan “Caring cities: supporting caring communities and the response capacity of the social welfare in times of crisis”, was inaugurated on May 11 at the Barcelona City Council. The deputy mayor for Social Rights, Global Justice, Feminisms and LGTBI of the Barcelona City Council, Laura Pérez, and the deputy mayor of Leipzig and vice president of Eurocities, Thomas Fabian, participated in the inauguration, and telematically did the European Commissioner for Labor and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit. Also, the deputy mayor for Agenda 2030, Digital Transition, Sports, Territorial and Metropolitan Coordination of the Barcelona City Council, Laia Bonet, closed the ceremony.
During the inauguration, the political declaration ‘Caring cities: act in solidarity with all refugees’ was presented, in which Eurocities is based on the evidence shared by cities, especially those closest to the border with Ukraine and that have received a greater number of refugees, to make a joint call to the EU and its member states to take action:
- Cities urgently need funding from the EU and also from states to strengthen local social services and coordinate the response of civil society in the reception of refugees. The cities welcome the decision of the European Commission and the Council to add greater flexibility to the already existing funds to support local reception and integration structures. But this is not enough. Cities need European and state authorities to provide additional emergency funds and ensure that they are immediately, directly and easily accessible so that cities can tackle this monumental challenge.
- Cities must be closely involved in state and EU responses to receiving refugees from Ukraine. Cities are keen to intensify their contributions by bringing knowledge and practical experience to the reception and by facilitating the exchange of information and knowledge between cities.
- Additionally, the cities ask for non-discriminatory and equal access in terms of rights and protection for all refugees in Europe. While helping Ukrainian refugees, cities must ensure that all refugees receive the same protection, regardless of their origin and identity, regardless of skin colour, gender, sexual orientation or religion. EU and international legislation guaranteeing equal access to rights and protection in Europe for all refugees and those in need of international protection must be upheld and applied fairly.
Laura Pérez remarked that “if these crises show anything, it is that there are no individual solutions, neither as individuals nor as communities nor as countries”, and “the intense interdependence of our communities”. On the other hand, she highlighted three major areas of action: (a) Barcelona, a caring city -it is the city with the greatest social investment in the entire Spanish State and also with the best and most innovative social intervention-; (b) Diverse Barcelona: it has a long tradition of diversity and non-discrimination policies, which in recent years we have reinforced with an innovative approach; (c) Barcelona, city of peace and city of refuge: the city is committed to providing refuge to all people who need it without discrimination, whether they come from the war in Ukraine, Syria or across the Mediterranean.
Organized by Eurocities and the Barcelona City Council, the forum is attended by more than 150 people representing cities from all over Europe, including councilors, as well as those responsible for municipal social services. The main intention of the meeting is to share experiences on the reception of refugees, care policies or social innovation, among others, in a context in which the outbreak of Covid-19 has meant an increase in pressure on systems of social and health protection throughout the continent.
Eurocities encompasses 200 cities of 38 countries across Europe.