EU cities, regions to help rebuild their Ukraine twins - EC president

BRUSSELS. April 27 (Interfax) - The European Union should mobilize whatever resources it has to restore Ukraine, including through local and regional cooperation, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Therefore, I whole-heartedly support President Zelenskyy's proposal to involve, through partnerships, the cities and regions of the European Union in these reconstruction efforts," von der Leyen was quoted in an EC statement as saying on Wednesday.

"Europe's strength is based on our citizens working tirelessly on improving daily lives and the future of our children in cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoods. Our cities and regions have experience and expertise when it comes to rebuilding and managing the daily lives of citizens. And we want to share this expertise with you. Peer-to-peer cooperation at all local and regional levels will allow us to speed up Ukraine's reconstruction," she said.

"We will expand exponentially the number of twin cities and twin regions between our two peoples. You can count on the huge solidarity of European citizens in support of Ukraine. And I know that we can also count on the 'European Committee of the Regions' that is actively linking our local and regional networks in the European Union with their Ukraine counterparts," von der Leyen said.

"We will help you to reconstruct your country and we will walk together with you on your European path," she said.