Mayors in the spotlight
European cities and towns are at the forefront of the reception and integration of refugees and migrants. Local mayors are key and vital leaders in ensuring workable solutions for new arrivals and their host communities. Historically, big cities as Berlin, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam played pioneering roles in this field. However: many middle-sized European municipalities, often in rural areas, also have longstanding experience.
Our series “Mayors in the Spotlight” aims to celebrate and showcase the leadership of local Mayors in smaller and rural municipalities across Europe, paving the way to a more welcoming Europe.
“These refugees had travelled for such a long period and been through so many things already, so it was really wonderful that they had finally arrived in the Netherlands. (…) I’m happy we were able to contribute to making it the most welcoming experience possible.”
— Jannewietske de Vries, Municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân, The Netherlands
