Additional Information on the Candidature of the Town of SPAICHINGEN, Baden-Wurttemberg Federal Republic of Germany
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COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONSEIL DE L' EUROPE CONFIDENTIAL Strasbourg 31 January 1978 AS/Loc/Prix (29) J2 PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY / ' COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL PLANNING AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES "pACECOMoSoQIo" Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize and the propagation of the European idea EUROPE PRIZE Additional information on the candidature of the town of SPAICHINGEN, Baden-WUrttemberg Federal Republic of Germany Replies to the questionnaire Letter from the German section of the Council of European Municipalities Review of European activities during 1977 /See also AS/Loc/Prix (28) 29_/ 53.246 01.52 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL AS/Loc/Prix (29) ^2 - 1 - Thank you for your letter, confirming that our initial application of December 1976 will go forward for re-examination by the Selection Committee in 1978. I should now like, on the basis of your questionnaire, to resubmit our application formally. I am also sending you a brief account of our European activities in 1977* together with the relevant press cuttings. Under section 12 of the questionnaire, we outline the European initiatives which we intend to take in 1978• Spaichingen is a town with 9,000 inhabitants. It forms part of the "Lankkreis" of Tuttlingen and lies in the south of Baden-WUrttemberg. Measuring our European activities against our population, we are convinced that Spaichingen1 s efforts to foster friendship and understanding between the peoples of Europe are well above the average. The award of the European Flag of Honour to Spaichingen would reflect recognition of our activities in this connection at local authority level. We would be particularly gratified if the award were made this year, since the town is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 1978. The award of the European Flag would certainly mark the high-point of our jubilee year. Albert Teufel CONFIDENTIAL ./. CONFIDENTIAL - 2 - AS/Loc/Prix (29) 32 Answers to the questionnair.e re award • of the European Flag of Honour Question 1: Membership in organisations of local authorities Reply Through its Mayor, Spaichingen has been a member of the Council of European Municipalities since 1970. Question 2: Contribution to their activities Reply , The lack; of suitable accommodation has so far prevented Spaichingen from hosting European congresses or other similar .. events. Our town is too small for this. In 1978, however, we are planning, for the first time, an international meeting of young sportsmen, with an expected attendance of 800 young people from 4 countries (see enclosure). Question 3: "Twinning activities" Reply Since 1970, we have operated, an examplary "twinning" scheme with the French town of Sallanches/Haute Savoie.' The launching of the scheme was originally celebrated at two major ceremonies, attended by the full population of both towns. Since then, the scheme has developed most satisfactorily. Up to 1977* more than 80 meetings of various kinds had taken place, including'meetings between town councils or municipal authorities (to compare notes), associations (sporting and musical events) and youth groups. The relevant 'municipal authorities and "twinning" committees have provided the necessary backing. There have also been numerous private contacts between families, individuals and groups, all of them inspired by the "twinning" scheme. Question 4: Other relations with munipalities abroad Reply Since 1973, Spaichingen has enjoyed particularly friendly relations with the town of Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria. The Waidhofen Music School's chamber orchestra has already visited Spaichingen twice and is to give a further concert this year. The Waidhofen Music School's youth orchestra and the Spaichingen Youth Choir have also given joint concerts in Waidhofen and its surrounding area and in Spaichingen on two occasions. We hope to develop links between the two towns still further. CONFIDENTIAL ./« f i /-\ 1\TT? T TV.T* Tm T A .T V^WHO.' J-I-'a-JiM.L _l_nj_J AS/Loc/Prix (29) 52 - 3 - Question 5: Exchange of persons Reply Every year, Spaichingen and the Sallanches "Twinning" Committee organise two school exchanges., during the Easter and the summer holidays. These exchanges have become one of the keystones of the twinning" scheme and have led to numerous friendships between families. Question 6: Organisation of European events Reply For many years, our associations and organisations have been arranging special European and international activities. Below, we list the main events: 1958 Guest concerts by the Spaichingen Town Band in Merano and Naturns, south Tyrol/Italy. I960 Guest concerts by the Town Band in Naturns, south Tyrol/Italy". I960 Concert in Spaichingen by the St John's University Male Voice Choir, Minnesota, United States of America. 1962 Second concert in Spaichingen by the St John's University Male Voice Choir, Minnesota, United States o'f America. 1962 Guest concert by the Spaichingen Town Band in Driesen, Liechtenstein. 1963 6-9 June, participation by the Spaichingen Choral Society in . the Austrian Festival of Song, Salzburg. 1966 Concert tour by the Spaichingen Choral Society to Eppan, south Tyrol/Italy. 1967 Guest concerts by Spaichingen Town Band in Go'tzis/Austria. 1967 International football match, i860 MUnchen v. Neftjanik Baku (USSR). 1968 International junior league football championship, with l6 teams from 11 countries (the most important matches played in Spaichingen). 1969 Third concert in Spaichingen by the St John's University Male Voice Choir, Minnesota, United States of America. 1969 International football match, Mbnchengladbach v. FC ZUrich. CONFIDENTIAL ./. CONFIDENTIAL - 4 - AS/Loc/PFix (29) 32 1970 Gues't concerts by Town Band and Youth Choir in .Sallanches/ Prance to celebrate launching .of "twinning" scheme. 1971 Guest concert by the Jon-Vidu Choir from Lugosch/Banat (Romania) at the Spaichingen Festival of Song. 1971 Concert tour by the Youth Choir to Steenwijk/Netherlands. 1971 10-day concert tour by the Spaichingen Choral Society to Romania, with 5 concerts in Lugosch, Neupetsch, Darowa, Hatzfeld and Temeschburg. 1971 Return visit to Spaichingen by the Steenwijk Youth Choir, with joint concert. 1971 International football match, PC K51n v. Red Star,, Paris. 1971 Guest appearance in Spaichingen, 1-4 May, by the USSR national team of women gymnasts. 1972 Guest concerts by the Spaichingen Town Band in Vichy/ Prance. 1972 International football march, Borussia Monchengladbach v. Rapid Wien. 1973 Concert in Spaichingen by the Apprentices' Choir from Pueblo/Colorado (United States of America). 1973 International football match, Bayern MUnchen v. AC Milan. 1973 23 September, guest appearance in Spaichingen by the USSR national team of women gymnasts. 1974 Joint concert in Spaichingen.by the Spaichingen Choral Society, the Rottweil Community Choir and the Choir of Hyeres/France. 1974 Visit to Spaichingen by young sportsmen from Japan. 1975 Concert in.Sallanehes/France by the Spaichingen Choral Society. 1975 Concert tour by the Spaichingen Youth Choir to Waidhofen/ Austria. 1975 Return visit to Spaichingen by the Waidhofen Youth Orchestra, with joint concerts. CONFIDENTIAL ./. CONFIDENTIAL AS/Loc/Prix (29) 52 - 5 - 1976 Visit to Sallanches/Prance by the Spaichingen Youth • Choir and young gymnasts. 1977 Guest concerts by the Spaichingen Town Band in Auer/ south Tyrol (Italy). 1977 Appearance by the Spaichingen Youth Choir in the "Music and Folklore" event organised by the "Schwaben International" Association in connection with the Federal Horticultural Show in'Stuttgart. 1977 Information visit by the Heuberg and area Turners' Association and the Spaichingen Vocational School Association to Cluses and Sallanches/France. 1977 September, return visit by the Haute Savoie Turners' Association. 1977 Concert tour by the Spaichingen Brass Ensemble to Steeg/Tyrol (Austria) and return visit to Spaichingen by the Steeg Town Band. 1977 Lecture session organised by the town with the Mayor of Shavei Zion/Israel. 1977 17-19 June, international meeting of, young sportsmen at Chateau Thierry/France, attended by young sportsmen from Spaichingen. Question 7: Europe Day Reply .On Europe Day, flags are flown from public buildings. The significance of the day is also explained to young people in schools. This year, we plan, for the first time, to plant a tree in celebration of-Europe on 1 May (1 May, rather then 5 May, because the singers of the Sallanches Choral Society will then be visiting Spaichingen). The -whole population will be invited to the ceremony, and musical accompaniment will be provided by the town band and choral society. Question 8: Support to European movements Reply Inspired by the European ideal, Spaichingen makes special efforts' to foster the welfare of foreign workers in the town. Thus, on the town's initiative, a special service was established to provide help with homework for children of foreign workers in the local primary and upper primary schools. For the first two years, costs were borne by the town. Since 1977, they have been paid by the Baden-WUrttemberg Ministry of Social Affairs CONFIDENTIAL ' ./. CONFIDENTIAL - 6 - AS/Loc/Prix (29) 32 In local schools, the children of Italian, Yugoslav and Turkish workers receive instruction in their own languages. The initiative here was taken by the town. Most of our Italian fellow-citizens have joined in establishing the "Colonia Italiana" Association. The establish- ment of.a special centre, the "Centro Amicizia", received both moral and financial backing. Like all associations in Spalchingen, the association receives a yearly grant. /• On the town's initiative, a special course was introduced at the Spaichingen Vocational Training School to retrain foreign workers as mechanics„ Part of the necessary machinery was provided by ENAIP, the Italian further training agency. The local Catholic community has opened an information centre for foreigners, with regular consulting-hours. It also operates a furniture depot, where foreign workers can obtain, free of charge, second-hand furniture donated by the indigenous population. The same applies to a clothing depot, which has been established in the Catholic community centre. On the town's initiative, the local elementary school runs German courses for foreigners.