FASCINATION EUROPE
This is the leitmotif of the Saarpfalz district's new Europe series, which kicked off together with the alliance partners at a panel event on 16 March 2024 at the Forum in Homburg. The guests and speakers at the first "Homburg Europe Talks" included the Head of the Saarland State Chancellery and Plenipotentiary for European Affairs, David Lindemann, the Vice President of the Moselle Department, Gilbert Schuh, the former Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, the President of the German Poland Institute and former Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heiko Maas, the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Władysław Ortyl, as well as consular representatives and district councillors or district council chairmen of the partner districts. They presented their views on the future of Europe in high-calibre speeches and stimulated a valuable exchange on questions and sometimes controversial topics in the context of current European challenges.
Following on from this panel discussion, the Saarpfalz district is planning long-term information and cultural programmes on the topic of Europe/partnerships in order to win over various multipliers for the messages of the "International Alliance" and to send lasting impulses to the citizens. The district adult education centre, for example, regularly offers events and courses on this topic and the schools of the Saarpfalz district are also to be made more aware of the European idea through formats such as "Landrat macht Schule" and specially tailored events and information materials (e.g. DOKULIVE event in cooperation with EUROPE DIRECT Saarbrücken). Many of the district schools in the Saarpfalz-Kreis live the European idea by maintaining long-standing school partnerships with schools in Poland, France and other countries in Europe and the world.