While the number of terrorist attacks in Europe has been decreasing, security remains a top concern for European citizens. During a conference organised by the CIVEX commission of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) in Athens on 21 September, Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos shared the CoR's view that the global nature of security threats requires cooperation at all levels of government, from Europe to local level. Participants also discussed how the find right balance between the security of the state and the freedoms of individuals.

Local and regional politicians from EU Member States visited the Eleonas refugee hosting centre in Athens today (photo) and voiced their concern over the lack of support for integration measures at local and regional level. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has repeatedly called to make relevant EU funds supporting reception and integration of migrants directly accessible to local and regional authorities which bear key responsibilities in these domains.

The president of KEDE, Georgios Patoulis, said that the Greek local and regional authorities intended to participate actively, by taking positions and making proposals, but also by establishing political alliances, in the project to build a new Europe.