On Thursday, October 13, President Mārtiņš Staķis, Chairman of Riga City Council, together with the Mayors of Florence, Kyiv, Gdansk and Lyon, met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Brussels to discuss cooperation between European cities and the European Union (EU) in the reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as in the current energy crisis.
The meeting discussed the assistance provided by the cities to Ukraine so far and the future support that could be provided through the EU involvement. The mayors confirmed their willingness to participate in the EU aid initiatives, including RebuildUkraine.
Mr Staķis emphasises: "Riga and all European cities have a duty to support Ukraine. Ukrainians are giving their lives for European freedom, European democracy and European values. The European Union and European cities must not stand by. In the first days of the war, the Riga City Council voted to provide financial aid to Ukraine, then we donated city buses, which were filled with humanitarian aid and donations. People wounded in the war are treated in hospitals in Riga, and Riga is a safe place for thousands of Ukrainian war refugees. Ukraine needs our help not just in the first days or months of war, but all the time. This means both immediate and urgent assistance, and long-term action to help rebuild Ukrainian cities that are being bombed right now. The involvement of the European Commission is essential - it is crucial that we contribute locally, nationally and internationally to this goal!"
The meeting also discussed rising energy prices, the challenges they pose and the solutions European cities have put in place to reduce the energy consumption of public infrastructure and help citizens.
Information prepared by: Edīte Matuseviča, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department,e-mail: edite.matusevica@riga.lv