The GPM stands in solidarity with EUROCITIES statement on Covid-19 European Solidarity

 The Global Parliament of Mayors stands in solidarity with the EUROCITIES Mayors to overcome the pandemic corona crisis together, by acting cautiously, clearly and effectively on the ground. The GPM believes cities and countries can control this pandemic, but action can only be effective when it’s taken as collective and is clear and fast. The European Solidarity Letter is in line with the open letter by GPM Chair Mayor Peter Kurz that addresses mayors on a global scale how they are uniquely positioned, close to the people and front-line leader for the safety of people. In their dual role as decision-makers and advocates for their citizens they are the decisive authority to deal with the global challenges in a creative and effective way. Mayors are now harnessing their power to act quickly and decisively. Only drastic measures can protect people and especially the most vulnerable in our society. The GPM is actively connecting mayors and networks globally through the GPM campaign Corona Crisis: Mayors Act Now to exchange best practices, connect mayors and city leadership at #MayorsActNow. This campaign runs on the Virtual Parliament of the GPM, a closed website where mayors can share their questions and comments and on the GPM website where local initiatives, policy tools, communiques and publications with regard to city leadership in this global Corona Crisis are shared.

The GPM invites Mayors to participate in the MayorsActNow campaign on the Virtual Parliament and connect EUROCITIES at global level with mayors from around the world. #MayorsActNow

Read the full statement of EUROCITIES here.

Mayors of big cities across Europe call for cross-border solidarity during the corona crisis. In a joint statement of the network EUROCITIES, they urge strong collaboration between all levels of government.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down and disrupted our societies beyond precedent,’ reads the statement from the network, which represents more than 140 major European cities. ‘We are deeply concerned about both the short and longer-term knock-on effects of the pandemic and the Europe-wide lockdown.’

‘We can already see the violent shock to our labour markets and sharp increases in unemployment locally,’ the mayors report. ‘Our health and social services are stretched beyond limits,’ affecting vital city services towards vulnerable groups, including the elderly, those at risk of domestic violence, homeless people, or people suffering from mental health illnesses.

EU needs to work with cities in the crisis – and beyond

‘With the right tools, city governments can further support people and local economies in the current crisis,’ EUROCITIES states, calling on the EU to work closely with cities on the EU’s recovery plan and to ensure rapid access for cities to funding.

The city leaders request ‘an increased health policy and crisis coordination at EU level’ and a close European cooperation: ‘The current situation calls for solidarity in the EU and strong collaboration between all levels of government.’

Cities are already working together across Europe ‘to urgently learn from each other’s responses and deal with the crisis in the most effective way,’ the mayors state. City collaboration is organised through networks like EUROCITIES and its platform COVIDnews.

The mayors also highlight the need to think and plan ahead for the time after the current crisis. ‘We need to have a clear view on sustainably rebuilding our communities and cities,’ they demand: Europe’s ‘ambition of climate neutrality by 2050 and its European Green Deal flagship initiatives must stay on track.’