European-wide cooperation platform connects Ukrainian and European cities

Cities4Cities aims to help Ukrainian municipalities receive the support they seek more easily

Last month, the German City of Sindelfingen joined forces with the IT company STAR Cooperation to develop “Cities4Cities” under the auspices of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. This newly launched website is a European-wide cooperation platform where Ukrainian municipalities can seek and receive support from other European cities.

Supporting Ukraine in multiple ways

Mayor of Sindelfingen Bernd Vöhringer discussed the need for such a platform, sharing that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has underlined the need for coordination and action at the local level. Expanding on this, Mayor Vöhringer explained:

“It [the Cities4Cities platform] is supposed to be a place for an uncomplicated exchange with our Ukrainian colleagues to get help as soon as possible and above all when needed. This can be for food delivery or just the exchange of knowledge. Connecting Ukrainian cities with other cities in Europe through the platform will make it easier for us to support our colleagues in Ukraine. We, therefore, send a strong signal of solidarity and a clear message: The European Council is close behind Ukraine and behind Ukrainian cities and communities!”

According to the City of Sindelfingen, the IT company STAR Cooperation not only contributed to the development of the platform but is also providing it free of charge. CEO of STAR Cooperation Oliver Messer commented on the new website, sharing:

“We are pleased that at the request of the city of Sindelfingen, with our software ExpertInnen, we could contribute quickly and uncomplicatedly to support the municipalities in Ukraine. It is a great initiative, which we will hopefully be able to promote across Europe.”

Vöhringer and Messer officially launched the Cities4Cities platform on 29 March in Strasbourg alongside the Secretary-General of the Congress in the European Council Andreas Kiefer and the Ukrainian Ambassador Borys Tarasyuk. Register to join the European-wide cooperation platform on cities4cities.eu.