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In the fall of 1999, a meeting of the Presidium of the Association
of the Europe Prize Winning Towns was held in Częstochowa, which
included the participation of representatives of the Chancellery
of the President of the Republic of Poland, while in May 2000, a
General Assembly of the Association of the Europe Prize Winning
Towns was held there, as well. The General Assembly was accompanied
by two major events: a conference on the role of local government
in fighting social pathologies, and an international youth forum
entitled "Drug and Alcohol Free Europe in the 3rd Millennium".
Forum participants signed a final declaration, where they committed
themselves to fighting drug addiction and alcoholism and providing
help to addicts.
In November 2000, the participants of the meeting of the Association
of the Europe Prize Winning Towns held in Leamington Spa (England)
shared their experiences related to the functioning of the health
care and social security systems.
On June 22, 2001, the General Assembly of the Association of the
Europe Prize Winning Towns was held in Ragensburg (Germany). During
the discussion on the "Culture in European Cities - Heritage
and Responsibility" cities presented their ideas, achievements
and solutions regarding the preservation of their cultural heritage.
In addition, an international youth forum entitled "Current
Developments in Youth Culture" accompanied the discussion.
It was also agreed that information on the Europe Prize Winning
Towns would be placed on the Internet. Mr. Maras, the mayor of Częstochowa,
proposed making a video or DVD film on European integration to promote
the Association. Youth from the member cities would prepare the
material, and the most interesting films would be shown on TV stations
across Europe. At present, talks on this matter are being held with
Euronews, Arte, TVP 1, and TYP Katowice TV stations.
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Last, but not least, the youngest laureate ever awarded the Europe
Prize was presented. The Austrian city of St. Polten was awarded
the Europe Prize in recognition for its partner cooperation and
the creation of a cooperation network for medium-sized European
cities.
Alongside the General Assembly, an international youth forum entitled
"Current Development of Youth Culture - Visions of Youth Culture"
was held in Ragensburg.
On September 28, 2001, Wiesław Maras, mayor of Częstochowa, participated
in a ceremony to award the City of Altotting with the Flag of Europe.
Mr. Benno Zierer, deputy chair of the sub-commission for Europe
Prize represented the Council of Europe during the event.
This October, a working meeting of the Presidium of the Association
of the Europe Prize Winning Towns was held in Klagenfurt, Austria.
During the meeting, the current activities of the Association and
the agenda for the next General Meeting to be held in Bursa (Turkey,
in July 2002) were discussed. During the meeting in Bursa, the representatives
of awarded cities will share experiences related to tourism and
security in Europe's historic cities and young people will discuss
their educational and job opportunities in modern Europe.
Among the major initiatives undertaken during Mr. Maras's term in
office as the President of the Association of the Europe Prize Winning
Towns have been the establishment of the association's web site
(see www.czestochowa.um.gov.pl/ europeprize/index_a.htm), the organization
of an art contest for school children from member cities and cities
in Eastern Europe entitled "Dog and Child", and the organization
of the Częstochowa Golden Mile street run, in which representatives
of various award winning cities compete against one another. What
is more, the Association's web site will be soon linked to websites
of the Council of Europe.
According to Mayor Wiesław Maras, the integration of local governments
in Central and Eastern Europe with their counterparts in the West
constitutes the Association's top priority. The expansion of the
European Union will create a new social, political, and economic
reality, and Europe will become a dynamic community. In order to
achieve this goal, bridges between local governments of individual
cities have to be built, just as the Association members have done.
Mayor Maras believes that we have gone only half way, and it should
be our primary goal to continue the work that has been started,
and among the activities that will be of crucial importance is the
propagation of international cooperation and the organization of
various events attended by young people, who will shape Europe in
the not-to-distant future. If these efforts help young people realize
that the United Europe constitutes an opportunity and not a threat,
then future generations will be able to live in a Europe without
borders and boundaries.
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EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY
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Częstochowa authorities believe that effective cooperation with local
governments abroad constitutes a key element in determining the city's
future image and course of development. Establishing new relations and
strengthening existing ones provide splendid opportunities for promoting
the city, acquiring new platforms for economic cooperation, and learning
about other cultures. What is more, foreign cooperation is conducive to
sharing experience in solving major problems.
In 1990, in their search for new models of development, local authorities
in Częstochowa signed a twinning agreement with the French city of Lourdes.
Today, Częstochowa's sister cities include Loreto (in Italy), Fatima (in
Portugal), and South Bend and Indiana (USA), and among Częstochowa's partner
cities are Altotting and Pforzheim in Germany, Balatonboglar and Bekescsaba
in Hungary, Savle, Solecniki and Vilnius in Lithuania, Rezekne in Latvia,
Mariazell, Bruck a.d. Mur and Graz in Austria, and Smolensk and Irkuck
in Russia.
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Cooperation with these cities extends to such issues as education (cooperation
between the schools, youth exchanges), culture (exhibitions, festivals
of individual cities), health care, (medical congresses and professional
training), tourism (seminars and tourism fair), sports (participation
in competitions, cooperation between sports clubs), and agriculture (training
for young farmers).
Some of these contacts were established spontaneously, without formal
agreements. Cooperation with Pforzheim was established in the late 1980's
with the German citizens providing help to the residents of Częstochowa.
Comprehensive cooperation between the two cities developed quickly, and
in 2000 they signed an "Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between
the Cities of Pforzheim and Częstochowa".
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has attached great
importance to cooperation between cities and regions across Europe, and
in order to promote such activity it established the Europe Prize in 1955.
The Council of Europe has greatly appreciated the work on the part of
the local authorities in Częstochowa aimed at developing international
cooperation and propagating the concept of a United Europe. In 1993, the
Council awarded Częstochowa the European Flag, and in 1995, it granted
the city The Emblem of the Council of Europe. In 1998, Częstochowa was
distinguished with the highest trophy awarded to a local government -
the Europe Prize. The distinction was granted in recognition of activities
promoting European integration and the development of the cooperation
with local governments across Europe, especially in terms of the "Pearls
of Europe" Agreement concluded between the five pilgrimage and tourist
centers of Altotting, Częstochowa, Fatima, Loreto and Lourdes. In addition,
The Council of Europe showed its appreciation for the city's propagation
of European Unity and knowledge about the Council of Europe and the European
Union at local schools, and its active participation in the work of international
organizations working to bring local authorities together. It also recognized
the city's organization of international conferences and seminars as well
as cultural, sport, and youth exchanges between cities. Last but not least,
activities aimed at promoting solidarity with Europe and other initiatives
designed to build friendship and trust between the residents of European
cities were among the other attributes distinguished by the Council of
Europe. Częstochowa has been the first and to date the only city in Poland
and Central Europe to be awarded the Europe Prize. In obtaining the Prize,
Częstochowa has become one of 57 member cities of the Association of the
Europe Prize Winning Towns. The promotion of Europe, the creation of close
relations between the Association members, information exchanges, cooperation
between several organizations in terms of culture, education and sports,
and the organization of events promoting a United Europe, all these, as
well as activities promoting European solidarity and understanding between
nations are among the main goals of the Association.
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