Complex-Free

- Krotoszyn has been one of the municipalities in Poland whose first steps in opening to the world included establishing twinning partnerships. As a result, functioning within the structures of the European Union will prove easy.
- Thanks to our long-term model partnerships, we have established links with cities in various EU countries, for which we were awarded the European Diploma in 2000 and the Honorary European Flag in 2001. In 1989, we signed the first cooperation charter with the Dutch city of Brummen, but our "unofficial friendship" was established in 1986. In 1995, our city signed a similar charter with Fontenay-le-Comte in France. Two years later, we initialed a partnership charter with the German Dierdorf Association of Municipalities. Since 1992, among our twin cities we can count Maišiagala in Lithuania (located near Vilnius), which, like Krotoszyn, looks forward to EU accession. Thanks to twinning cooperation, many friendships have been established, especially between young people, which, among other things, has resulted in bringing a new sports game to Poland: korfball. It is a team game similar to basketball, but it is played by co-educational teams.
We also regularly pay visits to one another. As a result, our self-awareness and mentality is changing. Today, even our gardens look different. Having seen how neat and full of plants and flowers cities are in western Europe, the residents of Krotoszyn wanted our town to look the same. Even me. Having come back from Germany, where I saw a town hall built in a similar style to ours, but — unlike the one in Krotoszyn — decorated with plants, I decided to change the situation. Since then, the windows of our town hall are decorated with surfinia garlands.

Urząd Miejski w Krotoszynie
ul. Kołłątaja 7, 63-700 Krotoszyn
www.krotoszyn.pl,
e-mail: um@krotoszyn.pl
tel. (062) 725 42 01

- What the majority of people expect, however, are rapid economic changes and improved conditions.
- I do not believe that our reality will change overnight, as if by the touch of a magic wand. We will enjoy, however, broader access to the latest technologies and EU funds. On May 9 and 10, we will receive first-hand reports of what we can expect after becoming an EU member state. During the Festival of Europe, residents of EU member states, who are the most reliable source of information, will talk about that here in Krotoszyn. And because the year 2003 has been pronounced the European Year of People with Disabilities, we are focusing on discussing their problems. Representatives of local authorities from partner towns will provide us with valuable guidelines on how to overcome various obstacles and difficulties. Moreover, farmers, who are a group that opposes our accession, should also be interested in the Krotoszyn's Festival of Europe. Having them in mind, we are organizing a meeting with farmers from the Union, who can provide reliable information on advantages and disadvantages resulting from EU accession.
- There is also a group who is afraid of a mass inflow of foreign capital.
- Whether we like it or not, each business sector in Poland requires fresh capital. In Krotoszyn, foreign companies have successfully adapted to operating in the region. We are proud that Krotoszyn is home to the sole powdered milk plant that produces a substitute used in the production of food and nutrients for babies and athletes. Moreover, state-of-the-art pistons for Volkswagen and Volvo cars and wooden cigar boxes are produced here. We are also a center for wax product manufacturing. We hold the world record, which has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records for producing the largest candle in the world. It was 3 m tall and 1 m wide. It should be emphasized that thanks to these companies, we have a modern fleet of machinery, and local workers and residents have easy access to the latest technical innovations. We invite investors to Krotoszyn, both domestic and foreign ones. We offer attractive investment sites and tax rebates, and municipal infrastructure meets the standards of large urban centers.

Interviewer: Anna Zatorska