As part of the Saarpfalz district's wide-ranging partnership activities, District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo, Chairman of the German-Polish Society Saar, has invited people to the "Homburg Europe Talks" for the first time as part of the "Fascination Europe" series. "Three months before the European elections, we want to talk about Europe, especially about why, in the 33rd year of the Weimar Triangle, which many see as the nucleus of a strong Europe, we need Europe as a guarantor of peace and stability more than ever before," the District Administrator outlined this idea in his welcome address and emphasised: "We should be aware and grateful that, despite the terrible war in Ukraine, which has now been going on for 752 days, we can meet peacefully in a round table like this."
State Secretary David Lindemann, Head of the State Chancellery, who represented the patron Minister President Anke Rehlinger, agreed: "Fascination Europe - surely we would all like to discuss this topic in a light-hearted way. Unfortunately, this is hardly possible in the current time of aggression and threat. Ukraine is not only standing up for its own freedom and peace, but also for ours. Everyone must realise this. That is why we must stand together and resolutely against Russia's new aggressive imperialism. Also in order to preserve the foundations of our European values. Never before has unity and togetherness in Europe been as important as it is today. This is precisely the message that these Homburg Europe Talks are sending out."
The topic of Europe was highlighted on this day by people who have felt, lived and supported Europe over many years and, above all, in many different ways, also by virtue of their office. They included Wladyslaw Ortyl, Marshal of the Carpathian Foothills Voivodeship, Gilbert Schuh, Vice-President of the Moselle département, Mykhailo Lavriv, District Council Chairman of the Kalush district and Deputy President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils, Anita Mikolajczak, Consul and Head of the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Cologne, and Taras Zholubak, Consul of Ukraine in Frankfurt am Main.
The event centred around a panel discussion with former Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and former German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. In the 40-minute interview with journalist Peter König, both agreed that freedom, security and democracy are characteristics that make Europe so fascinating. However, it was also discussed that these attributes should not continue to be taken for granted, but that they must be championed in order to be able to live in a peaceful Europe in the future.
Another focal point was the presentation of a model for a new European hiking trail based on the "Via Regia", the cultural route of the Council of Europe.
This project initiated by the Saarpfalz district for a European hiking trail, which can also be described as a peace hiking trail in the sense of the artist Otto Fröhlich's idea, can be a blueprint for other districts and regions to follow and further revitalise the "Via Regia", especially at district level. District Administrator Dr Gallo was therefore delighted to welcome Caroline Fischer, Administrative Director of the European Cultural and Information Centre VIA REGIA in Thuringia, to the joint presentation of the project.
"It is up to us in Saarland, in the Saarpfalz district, together with the countries and regions represented here, to create further models of intensive cooperation at the civil society level between Germany, France and Poland as well as Ukraine, also with the support of our American friends. We are showing everyone that we are European and open to the world, and that we are aware of our responsibility for the people of our regions," encouraged District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo at the end of the very informative event, which was entertainingly moderated by Sandra Brettar.
The German-Polish artist Paulina Kruszynski from Saarbrücken contributed to the successful musical programme. Berlin graphic artist Gabriele Schlipf also aroused the interest of the audience with a work of art that she created live and simultaneously with the event, thus capturing the "fascination of Europe" in a picture.
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].