(AGENPARL) – mar 13 giugno 2023 Press Release
CoR/23/61.en Brussels, 24 May 2023
Local and regional leaders welcome Commissioner Dalli's support for their work in fostering diversity and inclusion on the ground Regional and local administrations have a "key" role to play in the European Union's efforts to promote discrimination-free societies, the President of the Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, defended in a debate focused on promoting diversity in the EU with EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli. The debate was held in the last week of the European Diversity Month, created by the European Union in 2020 to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion and to mark the 10th anniversary of the [European Platform for Diversity Charters. <https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/tackling-discrimination/diversity-and-inclusion-initiatives/eu-platform-diversity-charters_en>%5D In their debate, members of the CoR and Commissioner Dalli also took stock of the progress of local and regional authorities in promoting gender equality, following the publication of the ["2023 Report on gender equality in the EU <https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2023-04/annual_report_GE_2023_web_EN.pdf>%5D ". In his opening statement, [Vasco Alves Cordeiro <https://cor.europa.eu/en/about/president/Pages/President.aspx>%5D, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said: " Europe’s diversity is its richness. Our citizens need to feel respected in every way, wherever they live. Municipalities and regional governments are responsible for implementing policies that are key to making sure that we respect all citizens and their diversity, from education, to awareness raising, to integration and protection of minorities, to even the way we build and ensure there are no barriers. As we could see with the cities that received the 2023 Diversity Awards by the European Commission (link), many already lead by example. The awards are a great recognition and encouragement for other cities in Europe to strengthen their inclusion strategies ." [Helena Dalli <https://commissioners.ec.europa.eu/helena-dalli_en>%5D, European Commissioner for Equality, stressed: " Regions and local authorities play a key role in our challenge to build a Union of Equality. They are well-equipped to act fast and implement policies that contribute to fostering a sense of belonging and promoting common values. Their efforts show us what is effective in promoting equality locally, and provide examples of best practices which can support our policies at the European level. This is why we have doubled funding to support regions to act against discrimination and intolerance ." The CoR has expressed its full support for the policies and the measures introduced to meet the objective of 'building a Union of equality' set out by European Commission President Von der Leyen, and has set out specific recommendations in its opinions on: the [Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-2016-2020>%5D ; [EU anti-racism Action Plan 2020-2025 <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-4617-2020>%5D ; [Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030) <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-247-2022>%5D ; [EU Roma Strategy 2020-2030 <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-5625-2020>%5D ; [LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-5861-2020>%5D ; and [Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities . <https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-1679-2021>%5D
Within its opinions, the Committee has called for increased
resources to implement these strategies and asked the Commission to set up an inter-institutional working group to ensure that EU, national, regional and local administrations work together in these policy areas . To highlight regions' and cities' role in this crucial challenge, the European Commission has established
[the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity award <https://eudiversity2023.eu/the-award/>%5D . The award, which is open to all local and regional authorities, is designed to recognise the work of cities and towns in building environments that allow everyone to feel safe and realise their potential. The award includes three categories: local authorities serving a population smaller or larger than 50,000 inhabitants, and a special award for LGBTIQ equality initiatives. The CoR has been part of the jury of this award since 2022. One of the award winners, [Valter Glavi?i? <https://gradonacelnik.hr/gradonacelnici/valter-glavicic/>%5D, Mayor of Labin in Croatia, contributed to the debate, underlining Labin's efforts to create an inclusive environment for ethnic minorities – chiefly Bosnian, Serbian and Italian minorities who settled in Labin during the coal-mining era. The Special Award for LGBTIQ Equality was conferred on the city of Gda?sk in Poland. Its Equality Strategy focused on LGBTIQ people, with the innovative initiative 'LGBT+-friendly service standards', jointly developed with local associations, to coordinate all the services provided by the municipality, including psychological, social and family support.
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