Cooperation with a future Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena Table of contents Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena 5 1. A reliable partner on the international stage 6 International partners 7 The Mazowieckie Voivodeship 7 Région Centre 10 Dear Reader, The Autonomous Region of Valencia 14 Armenia, a partner in the fields of culture and education 14 Focus on the Baltic 16 It is now twenty years since German unification gave Political and diplomatic visits 18 Responsibilities abroad 19 rise to the rebirth of Saxony-Anhalt. Our state had to contend with a difficult adjustment process. From 1991, 2. Part of a European network 22 Networks 23 the EU Structural Funds of the European Union gave Interregional cooperation 24 us a helping hand, providing some Euro 10 billion in The promotion of interregional cooperation made easy 26 funding. With hindsight, there is no doubt that our 3. Playing an active role in Brussels 28 European unity 29 joint endeavours have paid dividends. Saxony-Anhalt Policy meetings 29 is on the right track. Our many international activities The Committee of the Regions 31 have made an important contribution to this progress. The economic Members of the European Parliament 31 Representation of Saxony-Anhalt to the European Union 32 commitment of our businesses abroad and of foreign investors at home, 4. Future prospects with the backing of the European Union 34 cultural and academic exchanges with other countries, cooperation within Support from the EU 35 European networks, opportunities for schoolchildren and young people to Improving our competitive edge 36 Creating new jobs 37 meet, twinning arrangements between towns and local authorities, and the actions of societies and associations aimed at helping us and our neighbours 5. Our economy – a global presence with benefits for investors 40 Saxony-Anhalt supplies the world 41 in Europe and throughout the world to understand one another better – all Interregional business cooperation 44 are characteristic of a modern state which is receptive to the outside world: Optimum conditions for foreign investors 44 the state of Saxony-Anhalt. 6. International standards of education and research 46 School children and scientists with a world vision 47 This brochure has been designed to provide you with a brief summary of our Aware of the global picture from an early age 47 broad range of international contacts, and of the support which our state University partnerships 48 has received from the EU Structural Funds. I trust you will find it interesting An internationally recognised research landscape 52 and that it will inspire you to take advantage of these contacts and become 7. A great cultural and tourist destination 54 The art and culture of Saxony-Anhalt attracts international attention 55 part of our network of international relations. French culture in Saxony-Anhalt 57 Always worth the trip 58 Yours, 8. Seeing the world for oneself 60 Intercultural exchanges 61 International youth meetings 61 An international perspective for trainees and students 62 Rainer Robra Local authority partnerships 63 The international activities of our clubs and societies 65 Minister for European Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt And finally… 66 Addresses 66 Imprint 67 3 Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena The people of what is now Saxony- other countries in the fields of Anhalt have always been receptive business, science, art and culture. to outside influences. And the ideas Exchanging ideas with partners of local luminaries such as Emperor abroad, learning from one another, Otto I, Eike von Repgow, Martin representing common interests Luther, Philipp Melanchthon and Otto and improving intercultural skills: von Guericke have been influential international cooperation will be throughout extensive areas of Europe crucial for Saxony-Anhalt’s growth in across the ages. the years ahead – cooperation with Our people have been trading with a future. other parts of the continent since time The EU is helping our state to immemorial. Thus the gold contained achieve these objectives in many in the 3,600-year-old Sky Disc of different ways. Of especial importance Nebra came from northwest Romania, in this regard is the assistance we the copper from Austria and the tin, receive from the European Structural in all probability, from England or Funds. Bohemia. Creative inspiration from the region between Arendsee and The aim of this brochure is to Zeitz, Harz and Fläming, brought provide an overview of our contacts innovation to industry and design, with other countries. Many of these and had a global impact. The first can be touched upon only briefly, ever all-metal plane, designed by and the list of activities undertaken Hugo Junkers, the world’s first colour by the wide range of stakeholders film from Wolfen and the architecture involved – schools and universities, and design of the masters of the businesses and trade associations, Dessau Bauhaus are just a few cases club volunteers, politicians, justice in point. officials and administrative officers And Saxony-Anhalt has continued – is by no means exhaustive. to keep its eyes on the international Nonetheless, one thing is clear: horizon to the present day. Although Saxony-Anhalt is an international The Sky Disc of Nebra – one of the most important archaeological finds from the Bronze Age. Thanks to ERDF our state has no national borders, contender at the heart of the funding, it was possible to build the ‘Nebra Ark’, an ultramodern multimedia documentation and visitor centre, on Mittelberg Hill near Nebra, close to where the disc was discovered. it nonetheless has many links with European Union. 4 5 Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena International partners with our partners, the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Région Centre. Saxony-Anhalt is receptive to the outside world. It maintains international relations with many The Mazowieckie Voivodeship regions both inside and outside Europe. These close contacts enrich With its capital in Warsaw, the cooperation on many levels and in Mazowieckie Voivodeship occupies different areas of our lives. a central position in Poland and The value of the individual regions is, in economic terms, our eastern is also recognised in the European neighbour’s most powerful region. Union – indeed, there in particular There are close ties between Saxony- – with its current membership of Anhalt and Mazovia, partly as a result 27 countries and some 500 million of our musical heritage, because inhabitants. A region is a homeland, both regions have produced great and gives its people a sense of composers: Händel, Telemann and identity. Europe will only have a Chopin. future if it is a Europe of the regions. German-Polish relations have been At the same time, cooperation a matter of great interest to both between regions within the EU will states for some time, and not just be crucial to our own development. since Poland joined the EU in 2004. By cooperating and networking As early as 2003, Saxony-Anhalt and with regions in other countries, we the Mazowieckie Voivodeship agreed can establish long-term contacts – that their regions would work closely commercial, cultural and social – from together. This regional partnership 1. A reliable partner on which our respective populations can was signed and sealed on 13 October benefit. 2003 by Minister-President Prof. Dr. This is of particular importance Wolfgang Böhmer and Adam Struzik, the international stage for regions such as Saxony-Anhalt, the Marshal of the Mazowieckie which have no borders with other Voivodeship, when the former was countries. That is why our state has on a visit to Warsaw. Since then, continued to expand its cooperation relations between the two regions with other regions in the EU in recent have continued to improve. They years. Of particular note are the two are represented at a large number partnerships with regions in Poland of joint events where they showcase and France, both neighbours of some of their cultural traditions to Germany. We have reaffirmed these the public. Experiences from various by signing cooperation agreements fields of policy are discussed at 7 Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena Cooperation with a future – Saxony-Anhalt in the international arena seminars and workshops, and new Anhalt in 2008, which celebrated contacts are made. the fifth anniversary of the regional partnership. The five-day programme CIECHANóW To name just a few examples, featured a variety of cultural events, WARSAW the ‘Terra Incognita’ exhibition of such as the stage play ‘Blue Stars – SIEDlce contemporary paintings from Mazovia the Transit of Mazovia’, an exhibition was staged in Magdeburg in 2006, on Warsaw’s graphic art, and a recital PL⁄ OCK and in late 2009 the gallery of Burg by the pianist Karol Radziwonowicz; Landscape of the River Liwiec in Giebichenstein University of Art and information material was available Mazovia RADOM Design in Halle (Saale) hosted the from the universities, and a business ‘Top Floor’ exhibition of posters conference was held for entrepreneurs and book graphics by teachers and from Mazovia and Saxony-Anhalt, as students of the Academy of Fine Arts well as additional workshops. in Warsaw. Saxony-Anhalt has been Youth teams from Saxony- able to participate in many activities at ¬Anhalt participated in two sports museums in Mazovia. Representatives championships in Mazovia in 2009: of its own museums were invited to a junior cycle racing team competed a conference and workshop of Polish against an international field, and a museums in 2009 on the subject of girls’ volleyball team played for the the ‘Modern Museum’. The ripple effect Mazovia Cup in Legionowo. of these events will continue to have Our partner region of Mazovia is an important impact on cooperation involved in several of Saxony-Anhalt’s Open-air museum in Radom Chopin memorial in Warsaw Castle square in Warsaw between our museums in the future.