Municipalities from conflict-affected and EU neighbouring areas are at the forefront of the refugee crisis. They are facing the same challenges as European local and regional governments to address this influx. But the lack of coordination and of common solutions is leaving local governments alone. 

Mayors from both sides of the Mediterranean will address these challenges together and propose common solutions at the debate on the Southern Neighbourhood organised by PLATFORMA during the CEMR Congress in Nicosia (Cyprus) on 21 April from 4.00 to 5.30 pm.
 
An increasing pressure on public services, the need to offer newcomers a decent life and facilitate their social integration into the host communities, and the importance of raising awareness among constituents to avoid discrimination are among the key problems to be debated.
 
Among the speakers are:
 

• Aqel Biltaji, Mayor of Amman (Jordania)
• Jean Roatta, Deputy Major of Marseille (France)
• Béchir Odeimi, Director-President of Cités Unies Liban and Bureau Technique des Villes Libanaises
• Eleni Loucaidou, Deputy Mayor of Nicosia (Cyprus)
• Cor Lamers, Mayor of Schiedam (Netherlands)
• Francisco de la Torre Prados, Mayor of Málaga (Spain) & CEMR Spokesperson

 
You can already take part in the debate on Twitter with our hashtag #CEMR2016.