European work
The European Union plays an important role for local authorities, as the decisive framework conditions for local self-government are created by the EU and many of the decisions made by the European institutions must be observed and implemented by the cities, municipalities and districts. This applies, for example, to issues of services of general interest and inter-municipal cooperation, the development and promotion of rural areas through EU structural and cohesion policy, the implementation of EU internal market policy in the social sector and the environment and energy sector.
Of course, local authorities are not just executive institutions of EU regional policy. Rather, they make an essential contribution to strengthening cohesion in the sense of a pluralistic European society by acting as a direct interface to citizens and familiarising local people with the advantages and achievements of European unification and the European Union. With this in mind, the Saarpfalz district is committed to communicating democratic European values and promoting intercultural skills through special themed programmes and events (e.g. Fascination Europe) and educational information formats such as lectures and exhibitions.
As a member of several European-related committees and associations, the Saarpfalz district also develops numerous projects and measures in collaboration with regional and supra-regional co-operation partners who act across borders in the spirit of the European idea: