First twinning links set up via www.twinning.org

1st step: a political will

As part of a strong will to open their city at European and international levels, the new municipal team of the French town of Chevaigné (approx. 2,000 inhabitants) took the initiative to place an ad on the twinning website.

2nd step: consult the local community

This first initiative was accompanied by the setting up of a « twinning group », which has outlined expectations, objectives and also agreed on the possibility to look into submitting a project under the EU twinning programme « Europe for Citizens ».

3rd step: present of the project to the national associations of CEMR in France and Italy

This was the moment when the town of Chevaigné decided to contact the French section of CEMR (AFCCRE), of which it had recently become a member, in order to find support to properly conduct its partner search. The AFCCRE managed to find a partner in Italy and put Chevaigné in contact with the town of Mergo (1,200 inhabitants). The Italian section of CEMR (AICCRE) then ensured the link with Mergo.

Both national associations also provided Chevaigné and Mergo with twinning agreement templates allowing the two cities to make their twinning link official.

4th step: meet the partners and raise awareness in the local communities

Delegations from Chevaigné and Mergo traveled to Italy and to France in order to have direct and concrete exchanges with their local counterparts and discuss their expectations for the future of their twinning partnership. 

In order to inform and raise awareness in the local community about the town’s initiative, Chevaigné organised on its side an information and training session on « twinning and international cooperation » for the municipal councillors, representatives of local associations and the citizens.

5th step: the municipal council decides upon the signature of the twinning agreement

The twinning agreement is due to be signed by both municipalities in November 2009.

The twinning project between Chevaigné and Mergo includes actions in different fields such as: events on the European Union’s values, school and familiy exchanges, sports and cultural encounters, as well as events in the fields of tourism, agriculture, craft and the local economy and city administration’s practices.

List of national associations members of CEMR: http://www.twinning.org/fr/page/votre-association-nationale.html
Website of the town of Chevaigné: http://www.ville-chevaigne.fr
Website of the city of Mergo: http://www.comune.mergo.an.it