19th December, Bucharest
Press Release
Border Towns and Islands Network – a great way to mark Migrants Day 2019
On 18th December 2019, celebrating the International Migrants Day a group of 7 local authorities signed the formal agreement to establish the Border Towns and Islands Network (BTIN).
The Network was founded on the initiative of the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa (Italy) – the coordinator of the project #SnapshotsfromtheBorders in which the constituting Local Authorities are partners. Also the local NGOs – partners in the project, inclusiv Novapolis, are involved by promoting and providing support in each country for different authorities to join the network.
Besides Lampedusa, the founding Network members are the Marsa Local Council (Malta), Agios Athanasios (Cyprus), Grande-Synthe (France), Pesaro (Italy), Siklósnagyfalu (Hungary), and Straß in Steiermark (Austria).
The BTIN is made up only by local authorities of towns that are located at the European borders, as full members. Its purpose is to promote collaboration and mutual support among border towns and islands to bring their voice to national, European and International decision-making institutions.
The Network will focus on issues related to solidarity between towns and countries, the common needs of the local communities and citizens, more efficient ways for the reception of migrants, collaboration for increasing European and Member States’ shared responsibility, development cooperation, peace and dialogue among local authorities.
This will include:
● Networking and exchange of best practices
● Common policy work at national and EU levels
● Shared communication activities raising the voices from the borders
● Common educational approaches for local communities, targeting both local citizens and migrants.
From 2020 the network will welcome new members, with the aim of strengthening the collaboration among local authorities and their voice towards national and European institutions.
