Brussels, 13/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Network of Major European Cities, Eurocities, which brings together the local authorities of 129 cities of 33 countries of Europe, is holding a seminar at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 15 February, on the subject "European Cities Facing the Challenge of Integration". This seminar, which is organised in partnership with the Intergroup Urban-Housing of the EP, will bring to the forefront the crucial role of cities in terms of the integration of immigrant populations and minorities in European societies (see also EUROPE 9120). At this seminar, Eurocities will present its response to the communication of the European Commission of September 2005 entitled "Joint Programme of Integration ". In this response, the Network underlines the fact "that the role and expertise of the cities must be taken into account when implementing a European framework on integration, and in particular, the local authorities should be invited to be part of the future European forum on integration planned by the Commission". Among those taking part in the seminar will be Commissioner Vladimir Spidla (Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities), Jan Niessen, Director of the Migration Policy Group, Kent Andersson, President of the "Social Affairs " forum of Eurocities and deputy mayor of Malmö (Sweden), Stavros Lambrinidis, vice-president of the committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs of the European Parliament and Leyla Hamidi, of the Dutch Bureau for the fight against discrimination.
It is, furthermore, worth noting that Vanda Knowles has been appointed political director of Eurocities, replacing Antohony van de Ven, whose term of office ended on 1 December 2005.