The first "Homburg Europe Talks" will take place on Saturday 16 March under the motto "Fascination Europe". Jean Asselborn, former Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Heiko Maas, President of the German Poland Institute and former Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Władysław Ortyl, Marshal of the Foothills of the Carpathian Voivodeship, have confirmed their attendance at this special event. Other notable guests include Anita Mikolajczak, Consul of the Republic of Poland in Cologne, Mykhailo Lavriv, District Council Chairman of the Kalusch district and Deputy President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils, Gilbert Schuh, Vice-President of the Moselle department and President of the EGTC Eurodistrict SaarMoselle. They all live in a Europe that is currently facing major challenges, not only in view of the threatening war situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. Answers to the questions of security, energy, financial and integration policy will point the way forward for the people of Europe. The outcome of the European elections from 6 to 9 June will also play a major role in this.
Where do we stand, where do the European people stand in and with Europe? Why will a greater degree of European cooperation be necessary in the future? What role can civil society actors play? What fascination does Europe have today, or in other words: how can we get people excited about a Europe that is systematically maligned by interested parties? Shouldn't we be much more committed to Europe in its current form than simply enjoying the benefits and watching it being destroyed?
These are all questions that will be included in the discourse at the event with very exciting speeches.
District Administrator Dr Gallo is keen to emphasise that there are many opportunities to work towards a united, peaceful Europe at both local political and civil society level. "The founding of the 'Homburg Alliance' in July 2022, for example, was an option that we took together with the Alliance partners and successfully realised. I am very much looking forward to the fact that many alliance partners will also be present at this event and that we will once again address the topic of Europe together. In this context, the establishment of the Europe staff unit is also proving to be useful and helpful for the challenging coordination of all tasks."
As part of the "Homburg Europe Talks", the 'secret' of the "Via Regia", the oldest and longest national connection between Western and Eastern Europe, a cultural route of the Council of Europe, will also be revealed in the local region. The Saarpfalz district would like to draw attention to the rich and diverse cultural area of Europe, which has taken on new dimensions with the eastward expansion of the European Union. "The fact that some of the partner regions of the "Homburg Alliance" lie along the 'Via Regia' is remarkable and more than just a nice coincidence. We will build on this and present the new European hiking trail as a connecting path of peace and values based on the 'Via Regia' to the people in our region," said District Administrator Dr Gallo. Caroline Fischer, Managing Director of the European Cultural and Information Centre "VIA REGIA - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe", has therefore also accepted the invitation to the event in order to focus on the importance of the "Via Regia".
Information on the district partnerships and the European work of the Saarpfalz district can be obtained from the Europe department headed by the Saarpfalz district's European Affairs Officer, Dr Violetta Frys, by calling (06841) 104-8273 or sending an e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].