Through Partnership to Prosperity

Panorama talks with Zenon Odya, the Mayor of Tczew

- What general idea guides the partner relations established by Tczew and cities abroad?
- Tczew authorities are seizing every opportunity to cooperate with cities abroad in various fields. Frequent contacts between local government authorities, cultural institutions, sports clubs, educational institutions and economic circles have resulted in numerous exchanges in terms of culture, sports, as well as cooperation in regards to education and various economic sectors.
 A foreign partner constitutes an advantage for a local government in Poland when it applies for financing from European Union institutions. Thanks to the support and recommendations of our partners, the potential for obtaining the Union funds is greater.

 The Program for Strategic Development of the City of Tczew implemented by the City includes provisions regarding foreign cooperation. Numerous contacts have been established with cities both in Eastern and Western Europe. The effects of this cooperation are already visible and are demonstrated by the fact that a growing number of people from the twin cities work together and establish friendships and other forms of cooperation.
 Among the benefits resulting from foreign cooperation is collaboration aimed at solving problems that our cities experience and the possibility of submitting joint applications for funding of programs implemented in the cities.
 However, our partners such as Birzai (Lithuania) and Kursk (Russia) look to us for examples and expect that we will share our experiences with them more than cities from Western Europe.
 Foreign cooperation, in addition to allowing partners to share experiences and learn about one another and the conditions in which the other lives, also brings material benefits. As we head towards a United Europe, it is crucial and indispensable that relations be established between people.
 In 1990, we initiated cooperation with the German city of Witten, which had already established twin relations with several cities in Europe and beyond the continent. During  joint meetings in Witten, we established relations with the representatives of these cities, which resulted in the signing of partnership agreements with Kursk (Russia), Lev Hasharon (Israel), Werder (Germany), Birzai (Lithuania) and Barking & Dagenham (England).
 The City provides inspiration and opportunities for establishing official relations. Then, the local government hands the initiative over to the residents of the city and representatives of various circles. They meet, exchange experiences, and become acquainted with one another. So, although the city and local government initiate the activities, the cooperation should be conducted outside of the local government.

- What kinds of cities (in terms of their size, economic character and common problems) should establish cooperation?
- I believe that cooperation between cities of similar size and facing similar problems can prove most effective. In such cases, sharing experiences in solving individual issues is extremely valuable for both sides.
 The relations between Tczew and the London borough of Barking & Dagenham can serve as a splendid example here. A joint project financed by the Know How Fund helped to prepare a program for the development of the city in the direction of the river, both for    Tczew and its British partner.
- What benefits has twin cooperation already provided to the city?
- Cooperation between cities means most of all cooperation between people. I believe that the local government sends a signal to commence cooperation by signing official agreements and arranging meetings of councilors and city officials.
 We have organized or helped to organize visits of the youth of our city to our twin cities and helped to establish partner contacts between schools, clubs, and other institutions operating in Tczew.
 Thanks to the participation of our partners in the organization of events, we have obtained funds from the European Union. These activities allow us to prepare a larger number of events and provide opportunities for meetings between representatives of twin towns.
 Apart from relief, we have managed to implement joint economic programs: the Waterfront in cooperation with Werder on Havel (Germany) and a project for modernizing the Old Town financed by the Know How Fund, which has been implemented in conjunction with Barking & Dagenham.
 During the INVESTCITY Polish City Investment Fair in Poznań, Tczew and Dębno (Poland) prepared a joint exhibition in order to promote partnerships between cities in Poland, which is not yet popular. Thanks to our cooperation with Dębno, we have also participated in the International Tourist Fair in Berlin.