As part of the Mayors’ Congress, Marie-Josée Vaquier, Mayor of Baisieux, welcomed Mykhailo Svitlyk, Mayor of Verkhivtseve, for an exchange and discovery visit. Organized with the support of Stand With Ukraine and Cities4Cities, this meeting aimed to share municipal practices and explore opportunities for collaboration between the two towns.
The visit began at Baisieux’s Town Hall, where the mayors discussed the specific challenges faced by their municipalities. With a population of 5,000, Baisieux is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL), an intercommunal organization that supports local municipalities in their development. This structure was presented as a model of local governance, offering Mr. Svitlyk inspiring perspectives for his own municipality in Ukraine.
The delegation then toured the town, allowing the Ukrainian representatives to observe the operations of a small French municipality, including its facilities and local projects. This visit also provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on the similarities and differences in municipal management in France and Ukraine.
This initial meeting between Baisieux and Verkhivtseve represents a significant step toward a future partnership, strengthening ties between France and Ukraine in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.
