Rubí is now a partner city of the Eurocities network

Eurocities accepted Rubí’s candidature to become part of this network of European cities. Our municipality from Vallès will be a partner city and, as such, will have the opportunity to work, along with other cities, on a forum devoted to social affairs. ‘For Rubí it is very important to have a presence in spaces where local experiences are exchanged and shared, especially those handling the topics we prioritise as a city, such as social cohesion and children’s rights,’ assessed Mayor Ana María Martínez Martínez.

Eurocities is a network that brings together many main European cities. The association was founded in 1986 by the mayors of six large cities: Barcelona, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Lyon, Milan and Rotterdam. Today it unites the local governments of 140 of Europe’s largest cities, as well as another 45 member cities. Through six subject-based forums, a wide range of working groups, projects, activities and events, the network offers partner municipalities a platform on which to share knowledge and exchange ideas.

The purpose of Eurocites is to strengthen the role of local governments in the European arena, thus working with European Union institutions to publicise the common issues that affect the daily lives of European citizens. The network also acts as a lobby to work, for example, to achieve changes in the focus of legislation.

Eurocities is open to cities with over 250,000 inhabitants. However, the organisation also accepts cities that – despite being smaller – have done good work in some of the fields in which the network is occupied. And that is the case of Rubí, ‘an act that makes our membership a true recognition’, the mayor pointed out.

Rubí’s acceptance as a Eurocities partner city means that it can join the Forum on Social Affairs. It consists of eight working groups that meet two or three times a year, which also collaborate via an online platform to debate urban challenges, exchange good practices, develop political statements and participate in European Union projects.

Fight against child poverty

Before Rubí’s entry into Eurocities, the European network had already recognised an initiative by municipal social services as a good practice. This was providing parents in vulnerable families with assistance and support, and it was included in their report Fighting child poverty in European cities. The main objective of the Educate, Grow, Share project is to provide fathers, mothers and other possible caretakers of children aged 0 to 6 a welcoming space in which to share experiences with other families and professionals. During six sessions, led by two social educators from the Social Services’ Child Service, the group explores concerns and questions on parenthood, working together to find solutions.

The project was started up in 2019 with the participation of a dozen adults being assisted by Social Services. In the short term, the experience helped strengthen participants’ self-confidence and security as competent caregivers of their children, as well as letting the City Council detect which topics are of greatest interest to the parents with regard to raising and educating their children. The project also contributed indirectly to changing the perception that some citizens have of social services.

The report Fighting Child Poverty in European Cities recognises the good results of this initiative and highlighted Rubí’s strategy for fighting childhood poverty.