Douzelage

Douzelage is an association of each of a community of each country of the European Union. The name Douzelage consists of douze (French: twelve ) together and jumelage ( twinning French). Although already more than a dozen cities and towns belong to Douzelage, the name remains.

Generally

The objectives of the Association are in school, sports and cultural exchange as well as in the promotion of cooperation between cities and towns. Twice a year there is a meeting of the members to initiate projects and exchange ideas. For communication is mainly English and partly also used French. Douzelage is headed by a President and two Vice-Presidents from each another place, who are elected for a period of three years.

1993 Douzelage was awarded by the European Commission as an outstanding partnership project with the " Golden Stars of Town Twinning ."

Members

Douzelage was created in 1989 through the partnership of the cities Sherborne ( Great Britain) and Granville (France). In 1991, delegations met in each case one of the twelve EU countries in Granville to officially call Douzelage to life.

The founding members were:

  • Altea ( Spain)
  • Kötzting ( Germany )
  • Bellagio (Italy )
  • Bundoran (Ireland )
  • Granville (France)
  • Holstebro (Denmark)
  • Houffalize (Belgium )
  • Meerssen (Netherlands)
  • Nidderanven ( Grand Duchy of Luxembourg )
  • Preveza ( Greece)
  • Sesimbra ( Portugal)
  • Sherborne (Great Britain)

Later added are:

  • Karkkila (Finland ) - 1997
  • Oxelösund (Sweden) - 1998
  • Jews Castle ( Austria ) - 1999

In the wake of EU enlargement following in a first step cities in 2004 have been accepted as members:

  • Kőszeg (German Güns ) (Hungary )
  • Sušice (German Schüttenhofen ) ( Czech Republic)
  • Chojna (German Konigsberg in Neumark ) (Poland )
  • Sigulda (German Segewold ) ( Latvia)
  • Türi (German Turgel ) ( Estonia)

A second expansion included:

  • Zvolen (German Altsohl ) (Slovakia ) - 2007
  • Prienai (German Prenen ) ( Lithuania) - 2008
  • Marsascala (Malta ) - 2009
  • Siret (German Sereth ) (Romania ) - 2010

Other members were

  • Agros (Cyprus)
  • Tryavna (Bulgaria)
  • Skofja Loka (Eng. bishop paint) (Slovenia )

Douzelage currently comprises 26 members, after the Finnish and from the Croatian not yet joined.

Granville (Manche) Bellagio, Lombardy Niederanven Sesimbra Municipality Judenburg Agros, Cyprus
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