(AGENPARL) - Roma, 19 Giugno 2026 - Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
From our towns to the world: we must keep alive the promise of safety for refugees
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is the political assembly representing local and regional governments across the 46 member States, responsible for promoting and monitoring local
"This year when World Refugee Day is marked under the theme "The right to seek safety as a common safeguard for all of us", the Congress is clear that a "local level up" approach is also necessary to ensure that refugees' safety is secured in the interests of all. That sentiment underpins a report on supporting Ukrainian refugees being prepared by the Congress Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity. While their temporary protection status has now been prolonged, many of the near 6 million Ukrainian refugees navigate between aspirations for more permanent integration in other European countries and hopes for a return to their home country, not least to play a vital role in its future recovery and reconstruction. In providing services and opportunities for those refugees now and into the future, local and regional authorities not only help the individuals concerned, but protect their human rights and contribute to the solidarity and security of Europe."
Contact: Congress Communication Unit ( ,
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Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, the Congress brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Konstantinos Koukas (Greece, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Patriots for Europe (PfE).
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