(Strasbourg) “Against the background of rising rhetoric of intolerance towards migrants, we call on local and regional authorities, jointly with their national governments, to recognise the contributions and opportunities of migration”, stated Heather Brannan-McVey (United Kingdom) and Kristoffer Tamsons (Sweden), representatives of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of International Migrants Day (18 December). “Successful integration of migrants is central to ensuring peace, security and prosperity for local communities, as stated by the Congress at the Ministerial Conference on Migration in Strasbourg on 10 December 2025”. “Migrants’ own cultures, competences and initiatives are valuable assets for the development of inclusive and sustainable local communities. The stories and skills brought in by migrants themselves often become part of local narratives of open-minded and progressive societies”, underlined the Congress spokespersons, in reference to the International Day’s 2025 theme “My Great Story: Cultures and Development”. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is the political assembly representing the local and regional authorities of the 46 Member States. It is responsible for promoting and monitoring local democracy.