The initiative involved the Portuguese municipalities of Góis, Cantanhede, Miranda do Corvo, Soure, Pampilhosa da Serra, Penela, Lousã, and Montemor-o-Velho, which established agreements with the Ukrainian municipalities of Lopushne, Mykulyntsi, Vinkivtsi, Dabriv, Kosmach, Staryi Ostropil, Hryshkivtsi, and Murovani Kurylivtsi.
The ceremony, held at the facilities of the Coimbra Metropolitan Region, was attended by mayors and representatives of the partner municipalities, the Consul of Ukraine in Porto, Andrii Vdovychenko, and representatives of European and Ukrainian entities linked to the project.
The President of the Coimbra Metropolitan Region, Helena Teodósio, highlighted the importance of the initiative in a challenging context for Ukraine, emphasizing the fundamental role of municipalities in protecting populations and providing public services. "We want to build bridges between municipalities, but also between people. Bridges that withstand time and are strengthened through knowledge, collaboration, and friendship," she stated.
Helena Teodósio further stressed that the cooperation initiated represents an opportunity for mutual learning and should be the starting point for a lasting relationship, capable of generating concrete results for the territories and their respective populations.
The Bridges of Trust project, developed by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions in partnership with the Association of Ukrainian Cities, aims to create lasting relationships and encourage the exchange of knowledge in areas such as local governance, civil protection, education, culture, and sustainable territorial development.
The initiative includes the visit of a delegation of 16 representatives from eight Ukrainian municipalities to the Coimbra Metropolitan Region, from October 22nd to 24th, with a program of visits to the partner Portuguese municipalities to establish direct contact with the territories and local projects.
