Town twinning

Local authorities and high-level representatives of EU institutions will gather to discuss how to promote active European citizenship, in Brussels, on 28-29 September 2006.

 

The first day of the 'Europe for Citizens Forum" will focus on the lessons learnt from town-twinning activities. Anders Knape, mayor of Karlstad, and president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions' (CEMR) town twinning committee, will present the development of town twinning since 1989 and its perspectives in the future. The day will be concluded by the Golden Stars ceremony during which the commission will reward outstanding projects of active European citizenship. The winning projects will present their project in an exhibition held during the two days of the forum.

 

The second day will focus on the future 'Europe for Citizens" programme and its implementation.

 

Forum speakers will include:

 

. EU commissioner in charge of education, formation and culture, Ján Figel;

. President of the Committee of the Regions, Michel Delebarre;

. Member of the EU Parliament (MEP) and President of the Culture Committee, Nikolaos Sifunakis; MEP and rapporteur for the "Europe for citizens" programme, Hannu Takkula;

. President of the European economic and social committee, Anne-Marie Sigmund;

. Mayor of Karlstad and chair of CEMR's working group on town-twinning, Anders Knape;

. Permanent representative of Finland, EU presidency, Eikka Kosonen;

. President of the social platform, Anne Sophie Parent;

. Director General, DG Education and Culture, EU Commission, Odile Quintin;

. Director, DG Employment and social affairs, EU Commission, Luisella Pavan-Woolfe;

. Several mayors and representatives of cities including Budapest, Kaunas, Nuremberg and Bradford.

 

The Forum will be the occasion to exchange experiences and to learn about new opportunities and methods, and to identify future partners, with a view to foster active European citizenship.

 

The website of the two-day "Europe for Citizens Forum"

CEMR's website on town twinning

 

Practical information

 

. On-line registrations to be sent by 8 September 2006

. No participation fee

. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Polish

. Dates: 28-29 September 2006

. Venue:

The Charlemagne Building - Room S3

Rue de la Loi 170

1040 Brussels

BELGIUM