The Covilhã City Council executive approved last Friday, on the 4th, in a private meeting and unanimously, the Municipal Plan for Migrant Integration. The mayor, Hélio Fazendeiro, justified the approval by stating that Covilhã was one of the municipalities that grew the most between 2020 and 2025, and that the plan represents the municipality's commitment to welcoming communities and people who seek the territory.
The plan's objective is to facilitate better integration into the community, both socially and culturally, among other aspects. Hélio Fazendeiro acknowledged that Covilhã has its own identity, so it is necessary to find a balance between different realities to build a better community.
The opposition voted in favor of the proposal. Eduardo Cavaco, from the CDS/PP-IL coalition, considered the document fundamental, stating that welcoming those who seek the municipality is part of covilhanense tradition. Pedro Serrão, a councilor from PSD, recalled that Covilhã has immense cultural diversity and defended that it is essential to properly integrate those who choose the territory to live.
Pedro Serrão also highlighted that the University of Beira Interior currently has several students and faculty of other nationalities, emphasizing the importance of having a defined strategy in this area.
