Honor for Christine Wagner: Filderstadt's bridge to France!

Honor for Christine Wagner: Filderstadt's bridge to France!

Filderstadt, Deutschland - in Filderstadt, Christine Wagner recently received for her tireless efforts for Franco-German friendship. Born in the French, she has lived in the city since 1978 and has been the long -time chairman of the German-French society made a name that was launched in 2003. The aim of society is to promote the cultural exchange between the two countries. Their work was now given special recognition with the awarding of the medal of the Élysée Treaty by the French Consul General in Stuttgart, Gaël de Maisonneuve.

"The Élysée contract is not just a document-it is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Germany and France," said de Maisoneneuve at the ceremony. The contract, which was signed on January 22, 1963, has left a deep impression in the politics of both countries, even if its legal content is not very binding. It is based on the principle of voluntary cooperation, which unfortunately is often in the political discussion, but still creates an important basis for later agreements, such as the Contract of Aachen from 2019.

a heart for Filderstadt

Christine Wagner received numerous visitors from the partner cities La Souterraine and Dombasle-sur-Meurthe in Filderstadt over the years. Her commitment makes her a “foreign minister” of the city, as Mayor Christoph Traub aptly described her. In the past, she continuously campaigned for strengthening the cultural bridges between Germany and France and promoting languages ​​in schools.

Wagner has given up her board of directors at Franco-German society, but remains active as deputy chair. Her successor Stéphane Lacalmette from Harthausen will now lead the club's fortunes, which currently counts and plans to rejuvenate 75 members.

a strong network

Not only the association benefits from Wagner, the Franco-German cooperation as a whole is also remarkable. According to the Foreign Office France is considered Germany's most important and most important partner in Europe. Numerous institutions and cooperation, such as the Franco-German Youth Work and the common television broadcaster ARTE, are characterized by the close relationship between the two countries.

Wagner himself played a major role in this network. Your initiative has contributed to making the positive effects of the Élysée contract tangible in practice. The fact that the exchange of students between the two nations remains relatively low is worrying- the decline in French and German learners shows that there is still a need for action here.

With people like Christine Wagner at the top, the cultural relationships between Germany and France are in the best hands. Your award is confirmation that the efforts to be closer to closer cooperation are not only seen, but also valued.