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

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

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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 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

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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 /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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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'. 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

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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. Two years ago, our Yugoslav fellow-citizens founded a football club, the "PK Jugoslawija Spaichingen". The town provides the club with facilities on the' same basis as indigenous clubs. This also applies to financial assistance from public funds. Question 9° Propagation of the European idea Reply Spaichingen has always done everything possible to spread and promote the European idea. This also applies to schools, and some of the results have been indicated in preceding paragraphs. In Spaichingen itself, a street.has been named for our "twin" town,'SaHandles. Other streets have been named after distinguished Europeans (eg Robert-Schumann-Strasse, Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse) or leading figures in the anti-Nazi resistance movement (Graf-von-Stauffenberg-Strasse, Geschwi'ster-Scholl-Strasse, Eugen-Bolz-Strasse). One of the ' ' most important streets in the town-centre is the "Europastrasse"

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Question 10: Actions of European solidarity Reply In recent years, schools and church communities in Spaichingen have organised various campaigns to assist communities afflicted by disaster, eg the earthquake victims in Friuli/Italy and the' flood victims in Romania (collection of clothes). Question 11: Presentation Reply Needless to say, if awarded the European Flag of Honour, Spaichingen would be happy to organise a public ceremony, with active participation by young people. •If the flag were awarded this year, we would suggest that it might be presented during the jubilee celebrations early in_September. _In this way, the award of the flag could become the high-point of the celebrations. Question 12: Other initiatives Reply This year, Spaichingen hopes to organise a competition, inviting artists to submit designs for a Europe fountain. SUdwestfunk (the regional broadcasting service) has already offered a grant of 1,000 DM for this purpose. We also intend to set up an obelisk in the market-square, its inscription including a reference to our "twinning" scheme with Sallanches. - Our programme of European events and activities for 1978 is as follows: 7.1.78 European Cup Table Tennis return match between the Czech champions, Sparta Prague, and the German champions, SSV Reutlingen, in Spaichingen (already held). 5.2.78 Pre-Lenten procession, with participants from our "twin" town, Sallanches. 17.3 - Exhibition of stamps and coins, with participants 19.3.78 from Sallanches and Cluses/France.

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29.3 - Schools exchange (children from Spaichingen in 12.4.78 Sallanches)-. " -. - - - -•• ••-•: 29.4.78 Football championship organised by the Jugoslawija Football Club, Spaichingen. 29.4 - Visit to Spaichingen of Sallanches Choral Society. 1.5.78 1.5.78 Planting of a Europe tree in the market-square, with ceremony attended by the visitors from Sallanches and the local population. 13.5 - International football championship for youth 14..5.78 teams from Denmark, France and Germany. 20..5.78 Second football championship organised by'the Jugoslawija Club. 27.5.78 Celebration concert in Spaichingen, with participation of the chamber orchestra from Waidhofen/Austria. 9.6 - International festival of sport for young people 11.6.78 with 800 participants from 4 countries (France, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany). . 1.7 - Schools exchange (children from Sallanches in 10.7.78 Spaichingen). 27.7 - Visit of university choir from Colorado/United 30.7.78 States of America. 31.8.78 International football match between "A" youth teams from Germany and France in connection with the town's jubilee. 3.9.78 Ceremonial procession in celebration of the jubilee, with the participation of visitors from Sallanches and Spaichingen's foreign residents. The Town Council and "Twinning" Committee from Sallanches have also been invited to attend the celebrations. 16.9.78 4oth anniversary of foundation of the gardeners' club, to be .celebrated with the yodellers1 club from Hettiswil/Switzerland. 28.9 - Three-country gymnastics championship, Germany, 30.9.78 Switzerland, Spain, with television coverage. 30.11.78 Visit to Spaichingen by a Spanish girls' ohoir. Date to-be Handball match between Germany and France in decided Spaichingen (November/December).

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Letter from the German section of the Council of European Municipalities Subject: Candidature of the 'town of Spaichingen for the European Flag of Honour In a letter dated 30 December 1976 the town of Spaichingen made application for the award of the European Flag of Honour for 1978. This application, of which I received a copy, is in your possession, and you will be able to see from it that this honour is being sought by Spaichingen in 1978 for the particular reason that the town is to celebrate its 150th jubilee. It would therefore be a very fitting reward for the efforts made by this town in the European cause if application could be granted. We strongly support this desire because Spaichingen is very active in all matters connected with Europe whenever they affect the town's policies. I therefore beg to refer .you to the reasons given by the town of Spaichingen itself in the letter dated 30 December 1976. We confirm that these particulars are correct and would be glad if the application could be granted.

(Signed) Dr. Berkenhoff

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Review of European activities during 1977 a. Efforts to foster the "pairing" with the twin town of Sallanches-, France. b. Other events at European level organised in Spaichingen. 6.1 - Concert tour by Spaichingen Bugle Band to Steeg/Austria 10.1.77 18.2.77 Group from the French twin town of Sallanches and brass band from Steeg/Austria, took part in Spaichingen Carnival Parade 19.2 - French delegation from Chateau Thierry visited 20.2.77 Spaichingen (preliminary talks regarding Youth Sports Festival at Chateau Thierry, 17-19.6.77) 4.3 - Fact-finding trip by representatives of Heuberg 6.3.77 Turners' Association, Spaichingen Vocational Training School Association and Borough of Spaichingen to Cluses and Sallanches/France - inspection of CTDEC Research Estalishment, Cluses, and a number of works, etc in Sallanches 26.3 - Pupil exchange with Sallanches 9.4.77 - 22 schoolchildren from Sallanches stayed in Spaichingen 4.6 - Blood donors from Sallanches visited the Spaichingen 6.6.77 local association of the German Red Cross 17.6 - Young athletes from Spaichingen took part in the 19.6.77 International Youth Sports Festival at Chiteau Thierry/France 20.6 - Pupil exchange with Sallanches 4.7-77 - 33 schoolchildren from Spaichingen stayed with Sallanches families 3.9 - Official visit of Spaichingen Town Council to the 5.9.77 French twin town of Sallanches 10.9 - Visit by a delegation of the French Turners' Association, 12.9.77 with reception at Spaichingen Vocational Training School 11.11 - Visit by a delegation from Sallanches Twinning Committee 12.11.77 - talks on "pairing" arrangements for 1978.

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