The municipality of Rezekne takes advantage of the experience in Greece

From November 2021 to June 2022, “Europe for Citizens” project “European Voice Challenging euroscepticism” was implemented (Latvian: European voices call Euroscepticism), with 27 European countries, including Latvia. The leading partner of the project was the Municipality of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (ROIs). In the framework of the project, discussions were held on current and important topics, including migration problems and Euroscepticism.

During the implementation of the project there were meetings in several countries, including Spain, Hungary and Maltā. The fourth, closing, meeting took place between 23 and 26 May in Greece, where representatives of the municipality of Rezekne took part - the municipal external communications organizer Inta Rimšāne and THE management project manager Irina Orlovska OF Maltas. The municipality of Pilea–Hortiatis, where there was a meeting with representatives of local and regional authorities, took place in discussions during which negotiations were held on the reception of refugees and the migration crisis, social and cultural integration, as well as Euroscepticism and the importance of a united Europe in freedom and cooperation. During the visit, Pileah-Hortiatis High School was also visited, where an interesting and educational discussion analysed how different countries are working with children and young people, what leisure activities are being organised, how integration issues are addressed among children and young people.

Thanks to the project, valuable experience has been gained with immigrants and refugees, the problems associated with their reception and their options. The debate discussed good and bad practices in social and cultural integration in Europe. New international contacts have been established, which will contribute to the cooperation of the countries involved in the future project within the framework of various new projects.

Irina Orlovska, 
Project manager of the “Maltas Association” of the municipality of Rezekne