Wir in Europa - Zusammenhalten und Zusammenbleiben

ongoing

The project promotes town twinning and gives citizens the opportunity to broaden their perspective and to discover the European identity and lived diversity. Under the motto ‘We in Europe - sticking together & staying together’, a total of 397 participants from Germany, France and Spain will meet in Laufach in August 2025 to look at common perspectives, values and challenges in a Europe that is growing together. Pupils, young people, senior citizens, administrative/association representatives, sports groups and politicians are all taking part. The focus of the meeting is the exchange on pan-European topics such as climate protection, structural change in rural areas and the world of work in a European context. In addition to the international exchange and comparison of different EU member states, the question of how the major challenges in Europe can be mastered together is always at the centre of all activities. This will be achieved due to different methods such as excursions, working groups, self-created exhibitions and other activities. The active involvement of the Laufach local youth council opens up the programme to young people. Young musicians from all three countries make music together in the trinational orchestra ‘EuLaufYep’. All participants are accommodated in host families who are actively involved in the programme. Some projects are open to the entire local population, which means that the participating sports and cultural clubs, church communities, schoolchildren and migrants also learn about the basic idea of the EU as a community of values. The project serves as a platform for the exchange of experiences and initiates follow-up projects. Together, we want to shape the future of Europe and counteract general Euroscepticism. With this meeting we want to contribute to a better understanding of the EU and better solidarity within the EU as well as to strengthen the friendships among Europeans in a time of Euroscepticism.