The Congress, with the support of Germany, is contributing to the Council of Europe Action Plan on protecting vulnerable persons in the context of migration and asylum in Europe (2021-2025) by providing support to local and regional authorities and their national associations in Poland, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania, who are facing a new and unprecedented wave of migration since February 2022, arising from the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine.

Local and regional authorities supported by the Congress project will be better equipped to uphold human rights of migrants, especially those of women and children, thereby contributing to building strong local democracy and inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

The main partners of the project are the Association of Polish Cities (APC), the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM), and the Association of Communes of Romania (ACoR). Their involvement in multi-level advocacy, identifying needs, and providing capacity development and support to their members, will be key in the sustainability of the action.

The overall aim of the project is to strengthen resilience in local and regional authorities facing migration challenges so that they can provide viable and democratic solutions to residents and migrants.

• Improved dialogue and co-ordination between local/regional authorities, and their national associations, on migration related issues with central authorities and counterparts from other European countries.
• Development and/or application of policies and practices to protect migrants, in line with human rights standards and taking into account the specific needs of vulnerable groups by local/regional authorities and their national associations.

• Local/regional authorities and their national associations strengthen their capacities to respond to migration challenges at local level.
• Local/regional authorities and their associations co-operate within a transnational community of practice on migration issues.
• Local/regional authorities and their associations identify good practices of protection and inclusion of migrants.
• Local/regional authorities set up local alliances and participatory processes to implement policies adapted to migrant specificities and needs of vulnerable groups.

This project builds on previous co-operation activities of the Congress, on good practices and on European and international standards and practices and responds to demands for co-operation voiced by the national associations.

Capacity development activities will be proposed to local authorities across the targeted countries with a view to strengthening resilience at local level in the field of migration and fostering collaborative dialogue between local and national governments.

Local and international expertise and support in the field of good governance and democracy with regard to migration management will be provided.

A peer-to-peer approach, including with members of the Congress, will be used for exchanges and sharing of knowledge, know-how and practices across Europe. This support will be provided directly to local authorities and in close co-operation with the associations of local authorities. They will actively participate and contribute to the co-creation and implementation of project activities and outputs, together will the engagement of stakeholders at local level, ranging from the general public to interest groups, NGOs, academia and local authorities.