The members of the "VITA FUTURA Bliesbruck-Reinheim" association met for their second ordinary general assembly on 25 March in the Foyer Communal in Bliesbruck. The founding members are Saarland, the Saarpfalz district, the Département de la Moselle, the Communauté d'Agglomération Sarreguemines Confluences, the municipalities of Gersheim and Bliesbruck and the tourism stakeholders Saarpfalz-Touristik and Moselle Attractivité.
In accordance with the principle of Franco-German cooperation, District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo took over the office of President. The previous President, Patrick Weiten, President of the Département de la Moselle, continues to act as Vice-President. District Administrator Dr Gallo thanked his predecessor for the good and friendly cooperation since the association was founded on 15 September 2022
In his activity report on the past year, Patrick Weiten reported on decisive steps for neighbourly Franco-German cooperation in the first year after the association was founded. These included the joint organisation of the major event Vita Romana by the Département de la Moselle and the Saarpfalz district, which is now developing into a true Franco-German highlight. "I would like to thank all the members of the association who have acted as multipliers in terms of communication. The media coverage on both the French and German sides was remarkable. Furthermore, thanks to the constructive work with the association's 'Tourism & Marketing' working group as well as with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the State Chancellery, we were able to draw up a spatial analysis of the Franco-German area of the European Cultural Park. Here, too, it is clear that the commitment of all stakeholders is creating a new dynamic in favour of the location," says Patrick Weiten.
A spatial analysis, a strategy for this area and a cross-border administrative body are the conditions for applying to the European INTERREG VIA Greater Region funding programme as a so-called functional area. The Franco-German association was able to fulfil and document these conditions thanks to the well-functioning partnership. A co-operation agreement with the INTERREG VIA Greater Region management authority is to be signed soon.
District Administrator Dr Gallo then presented the ambitious work programme for 2024. The recruitment process for the position of director has been finalised and the recruitment process for a second position has been initiated. Work on the tourism study is continuing and should be finalised in the summer. This study contains a catalogue of measures that can be used to increase the attractiveness of the park. It will also focus on the target group-orientation of offers and the associated reorientation of visitor guidance.
Following the tourism study, a comprehensive communication strategy is to be developed for the entire European Cultural Park. This also includes dispelling the idea that there are two cultural parks - one on the French side and one on the German side. Originally, both sides had chosen different thematic orientations, which is reflected in their names: Archaeological Park in French, Cultural Park in German.
"However, the Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Cultural Park should be perceived as a single entity in the future. As a unit on a small scale, just as we in Europe must see and support it on a large scale. EU citizens have the freedom to live and work anywhere in Europe - and to realise impressive projects such as the European Cultural Park. This is certainly another aspect that makes Europe so fascinating and we should always bear in mind the value of a strong EU. I am looking forward to the dialogue and the joint work with the partners of "VITA FUTURA Bliesbruck-Reinheim" and I am convinced that we will still achieve a lot for our European Cultural Park," emphasises District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo.
All members of the association agreed that important steps have been taken since the founding of the association for an exciting realisation of the innovative possibilities of the Aachen contract and they are looking forward to further close partnership work.
Background
30 years ago, the Département de la Moselle and the Saarpfalz district initiated co-operation to establish the cross-border cultural park and have successfully ensured its development to this day.
Based on the Aachen Agreement of 22 January 2019, the Bliesbruck-Reinheim site, which is unique in this form, is now to be given new opportunities and possibilities for further development in a new cooperation structure involving other partners from Germany and France. The overriding aim will be to increase the attractiveness of the park for the public by expanding the range of activities on offer. The association can be seen as a think tank for an integrated and cross-border management model and will further emphasise the role of the European Cultural Park as a reference site for Franco-German cooperation in the Greater Region.