The history of Konin international contacts is so long as the beginning of colonisation on this territory. Nowadays Konin is a middle-sized city located in the centre of Poland. At present there are no national minorities among Konin inhabitants but it has not always been like this. About 100 years ago the situation of the city presented itself completely in a different manner. Konin was a multinational small town lying in the border line between Russia and Germany. Next to the Poles there had lived representatives of many other nationalities mostly Jews, Germans, and Russians. It happened that there were more national minorities than Poles and even thou their reason of arrival and settling was completely different they had and influence on the character of Konin and in some way on today’s open approach of both the inhabitants and local authorities towards new and expending present international contacts. Current cooperation is mainly based on signed partnership agreements.
Konin has signed eleven partnership agreements with European cities. They are in chronological order: Henin Beaumont (France, since 1989, Herne (Germany, since 1991), Chernivtsy (Ukrainę, since 1994), Bryansk (Russia, since 1995), Wakefield (Great Britain, since 1996), Karlovo (Bułgaria, since 1997), Sundsvall (Sweden, since 1999), Akmene (Lithuania, since 1999), Dobele (Latvia, since 2000), Santa Susanna (Spain, since 2003), Ungheni (Republic of Moldova since 2006).
Five of the cities are located in Western Europe and are members of European Union. The remaining six are located in Central East Europe. This parity is not accidental. It is evidence that similar balance the city applies both to contacts with the west as with the east of our continent. Therefore, Konin city is of a kind a bridge between the East and the West of Europe. It is in Konin during different occasions where our partners have possibility of making common contacts and cooperation. It should be emphasized that some of Konin international contacts have much longer history than formal partnership agreement. For example Konin scouts have continued their cooperation with their Bulgarian friends for over 30 years though the partnership agreement between the cities was signed only in 1997. Similar thing is with the city Briańsk in Russia. This cooperation had begun in the 80’s by authorities of contemporary Konin province and have been continued by the City of Konin.
The coordination of city’s international cooperation has been led especially by designed for these needs in 1996, unit called Foreign Relations. Nowadays in connection with new challenges connected with the accession of Poland to European Union the office has extended competences and its name is Foreign Relations and International Integration Office.
First of all the partnership agreements refer to widely comprehended social and cultural and also economic contacts. The main goal is to bring closer community, initiating direct contacts between inhabitants. It allows getting familiar with culture, customs and traditions as well as problems of everyday life.
Unquestionably most has been done in the sphere of youth-group exchange. Almost every secondary school – but not only – in the city has contact with the youth from at least one partner city. Yearly exchange of youth is led. Konin authorities organize International Youth Camp “EUROCAMP”. It is an event gathering about 200 schoolchildren aged 12-16, keeping in mind integration of young people from twin cities. The exchange of adults is done with the support of local authorities by Konin Society “EUROKON 93”, where especially active is the section of cooperation with Herne city. Each year a group of Konin inhabitants stay at their German friends and vice versa. Quite intensive is also the cooperation between companies. The Voluntary Fire Brigade thanks to cooperation with German friends received in 2002 as a gift a fire truck. Konin Miners were one of two Polish official delegations that took part in German International Meeting of Miners and Mining Orchestras in 2000.
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Cultural cooperation with twin cities is supported by Konin Culture Centre – which holds relations with other organizations and institutions of similar character. These relations are based first of all on the exchange of dance groups, singing children, artistic groups, etc. The example can be participation of groups from twin cities in International Children Song and Dance Festival. State Music School in Konin leads constant cooperation with the similar place in Herne. Each year the representatives of schools visit each other giving concerts. In 2002 Konin was also the organizer of recite contest of Polish poetry organized for young people from twin cities. The city twice was an organizer of European Day. It was a day long cultural-educational entertainment with participation of artistic groups from twin cities.
Sports cooperation takes place both across local sports clubs and educational agencies. Every year the Sports Club “Aluminium Konin” organizes international tournaments of football both for women (girls) and men (boys) and invites teams from other countries. Our teams take part in similar events practically in all Europe. This type of sports events are also organized in Swedish city Sundsvall and French city Henin-Beaumont. Other example of international cooperation of sports can be the bridge tournaments which are held both in Konin and Henin-Beaumont where teams from twin cities take part in it.
City authorities play a significant role towards contacts with Polish society abroad and their regions. Constant cooperation is held with the Polish House in Czerniowce (Bucovina). Practically during every stay of Konin delegation there is time for a meeting during which Polish books, notebooks, cassettes and Polish records are given. All this is used for everyday use. Other activity of Polish society abroad can be the elections of Miss Polonia in Herne the most beautiful Polish girl living in Germany. The Konin authority and companies once again cooperate with Polish society there.
With the help of Konin City the State Training College in Konin has started its cooperation with University in Briańsk where on philological Faculty the teaching of Polish language was opened. Thanks to the authorities especially representatives of Herne city where no College is located the State Training College has started a cooperation with University in Dortmund. Konin students of economic tourism perform summer apprenticeships in hotels in Herne.
Big pressure is put on the cooperation in the economic sphere. Konin had been twice an organizer of “Economic Forum of Twin Cities”. During the meeting invited guests and representatives of businesses of Konin twin cities presented advantages of membership in European Union. Forum was a success especially in business area and it was a superb opportunity to exchange experiences of cooperation.
Experiences from cooperation with twin cities determine a superb base for future activities after the accession of Poland to European Union. Konin do not rest and we know that there is still a lot to be done.
