District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo was elected as the new president of the association of municipalities in the Greater Region at the recent general assembly of EuRegio SaarLorLux+. He succeeds Jean-Paul Dondelinger, local councillor and former mayor of Aubange, who has held this office since February 2022. In agreement with the Board of Directors, the President decides on the main features of the activities of EuRegio SaarLorLux+, which are managed on a day-to-day basis by its Managing Director Laurence Ball.
Dr Theophil Gallo thanked Jean-Paul Dondelinger for his conscientious and committed implementation of the tasks assigned to him. During his time in office, he had ensured that the association of municipalities was recognised at various political levels. The formulation of the functional areas between Wallonia and Luxembourg, for example, demanded great commitment. Dondelinger's presidency was characterised by effective public relations work as well as language and partnership mediation. Youth work was also very close to his heart, which he was able to intensify through the cross-border Créajeune festival, for example.
EuRegio SaarLorLux+ was a co-signatory of the "International Alliance for Peace and Cohesion in Europe" on 4 July 2022 in Homburg. The alliance partners from Poland, Ukraine and the USA were awarded honorary membership of EuRegio in March 2023 at the initiative of the District Administrator. This broadens the perspective of the municipal association beyond the very well-established area of the Greater Region. Over the next two years, Dr Gallo intends to strengthen EuRegio's work with the "Homburg Alliance", which he founded. "I see it as a great opportunity to push ahead with our peace efforts in this strong alliance of international countries and bodies, particularly with regard to the Weimar Triangle and Ukraine, but also in general with our commitment to long-term, peaceful coexistence in Europe. Pursuing this noble goal remains one of our most important tasks," emphasised Dr Gallo, thanking the Executive Committee, the management and the members of EuRegio for the trust they have placed in him. He did not fail to mention the elections to the European Parliament from 6 to 9 June, which will go hand in hand with " shaping the future of an indispensable democracy in the European Union through the participation of the citizens of the Union".
Other projects are on the agenda, which Dr Theophil Gallo will continue to develop over the coming months with the support of the EuRegio Administrative Board and Secretariat. These include, for example, the production of two brochures on the functioning of the municipalities and on film festivals in the Greater Region, an event on the role of local authorities in their cooperation in Europe and an Interreg project on remembrance work.
Background
The EuRegio SaarLorLux+ emerged from the working group of municipalities, COMREGIO. Out of the need to institutionalise a cross-border representation of municipal interests, the EuRegio SaarLorLuxRhin was founded on 15 February 1995 as a non-profit association under Luxembourg law (asbl: aassociation sans but lucratif). The main objective, in addition to the exchange of experience, was for the municipalities to develop into representative forces in the border region. This municipal umbrella organisation of the Greater Region has been in existence ever since.
Further information on EuRegio SaarLorLux+ can be found on the Internet at www.euregio.lu.
Information on the district partnerships and the European work of the Saarpfalz district can be obtained from the head of the European staff unit and European representative of the Saarpfalz district, Dr Violetta Frys, by calling (06841) 104-8273 or sending an e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].