Wałbrzych Honored with European Flag

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe seated in Strasburg has awarded Wałbrzych with an Honorary European Flag in recognition of the pro-European initiatives undertaken by the city. Wałbrzych has actively cooperated with its partners across Europe. The Assembly appreciated its ability to effectively use EU assistance funds and the participation of the city in various initiatives promoting the idea of a United Europe.
The Ceremony during which the Honorary Flag was presented was held on May 12, 2001, which was also the date for the first celebration of the Day of Europe in Wałbrzych. The ceremony consisted in a session of the City Council and a European Parade organized by students from Wałbrzych schools. On this day, the councilors passed several resolutions facilitating the continuation of work on behalf of the European integration and Wałbrzych's joining the European Committee Association seated in Wałbrzych.
Lower Silesia Region Association at the European Union

Among the latest initiatives undertaken by Wałbrzych is the establishment of the Lower Silesia Region Association at the European Union. The project was prepared with assistance from the East Staffordshire local authorities from the West Midlands region in Great Britain. Among the tasks of the Association is the establishment of an Information and Promotion Center in Brussels at a similar unit representing the West Midlands region. The Center will promote the Lower Silesia region across Europe. Among the other major functions of the Center will be providing access to union funds earmarked for local authorities. As of September 2001, 22 local government units (including Wrocław, Jelenia Góra, and the Assembly of Dolnośląskie Province) participate in the Association. The Center should start operations in the fourth quarter of this year.

Wałbrzych Cooperates
with Other Cities across Europe

 
For a long time, Wałbrzych has cooperated with its partners across Europe and these types of activities have resulted in a number of advantages. At present, Wałbrzych is developing cooperation with the following cities:
Foggia in Italy.
As a result of the cooperation to date, local schools have exchanged students and cultural institutions have established relations. An Italian Festival with an emphasis on the promotion of the economy was held in Wałbrzych, while business companies from Wałbrzych have participated in Fair Exhibitions in Foggia.
Freiberg in Germany.
In October 1998, the Museum in Wałbrzych signed a cooperation agreement with its counterpart in Freiberg. In June of the next year, the two cities signed a partnership agreement. As a result, Freiberg has successfully supported the efforts of Wałbrzych aimed at obtaining financial assistance from Polish-German Cooperation Foundation for the renovation of the historic Lisia Tunnel, owned by the Museum of Technology and Industry. Moreover, cultural institutions and local authorities have worked together closely.
The West Midlands region in Great Britain.
In 1999, Wałbrzych, along its other partners, participated in the ALAN project as part of the ECOS-Ouverture Program. The main goal of the project was the preparation of a pre-accession strategy for the local authorities prior to the EU accession. Within the project, a training session was organized in Britain with a view towards making an evaluation of how British local authorities use the opportunities offered by EU membership. The project was concluded with a conference held in Budapest, at which the Pre-accession Strategy of Wałbrzych and other participants of the project were presented.
The Brittany region in France.
The origins of this multifaceted cooperation date back to the 1980s. In June of this year, the Wałbrzych City Council passed a resolution regarding the establishment of partner relations with the City of Vannes. Within the cooperation so far, among other things, tourist attractions in the Ziemia Wałbrzyska and Brettany regions have been put on display at Fair Exhibitions in Vannes and Polanica Zdrój. Moreover, local schools and cultural institutions have actively cooperated.
Wałbrzych additionally cooperates with other cities in Europe, such as Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic, Tula in Russia, Gzira in Malta, the Dniepropietrovska Zhovtnevy District in Ukraine, Givataim in Israel, and the Polish towns of Pszczyna and Jastarnia.