Germany

United Kingdom

Urban diplomacy partnerships between Germany and the United Kingdom

On January 1, 2021, the Eupean Union lost its third-largest member (in terms of population). Since the United Kingdom left the EU, relations between Germany and the United Kingdom have changed. Economic cooperation has become more difficult, and numerous funding programs for university exchanges have been discontinued. At the municipal level, too, Brexit has affected ties between the two countries and created new hurdles for cooperation.

Brexit is a key reason to intensify municipal partnerships.

Against the background of Brexit, many cities in Germany have expressly declared their willingness to intensify cooperation with British municipalities and to contribute their expertise to shaping future relationships and municipal exchange. There are around 420 town twinning agreements between municipalities in Germany and the United Kingdom, the first of which were concluded in 1947.

The 2030 Agenda, and in particular the topic of sustainable urban development, is also ideal for the exchange of expertise within the German-British partnerships: For example, the municipalities of Lünen and Salford are already exchanging views on structural change, Heidelberg and Cambridge on urban planning and climate protection, and Oldenburg and Kingston upon Thames to localize the 2030 Agenda. An expert exchange with British cities is also conceivable on the topics of combating homelessness, migration and integration as well as vaccination strategies focus.

Urban Diplomacy Exchange Partnership Conference

Urban Diplomacy Exchange German-British Partnership Conference | 19-21 June 2023 | Leeds
The German-British city partnerships selected to participate in the Urban Diplomacy Exchange project are cordially invited to register for the conference by 12 May 2023.
Find out more here

Project milestones Germany – United Kingdom

15 September to 11 November 2022

Call for participation

until the end of November 2022

Selection of the more intensively supported partnerships 

7 and 8 December

Open virtual partnership conference

22 February 2023

Virtual Mayors Roundtable with listeners from specialist departments

January - September 2023

Specialist exchange trips of the four more intensively supported partnerships

19-21 June 2023

2.5 day partnership conference in Leeds, UK

5 October 2023

Network meeting of German cities (presence)

  • German - British city partnerships participating in the project
  • Darmstadt  – Chesterfield 
  • Dortmund – leeds 
  • Leipzig  – Birmingham 
  • Ludwigsburg – Caerphilly
  • Tübingen – County Durham 
  • Stuttgart – Cardiff and St Helens
  • Bonn – Oxford 
  • Manheim – Bristol
  • Essen - Sunderland

DE-VK events

Wilsdruff seeks twin town in Great Britain

February 21, 2025

Shaping the Future Together
The town of Wilsdruff in the Free State of Saxony would like to expand its international relations and is looking for a partner town in Great Britain as part of the Urban Diplomacy project. Towns from the West Midlands region are particularly welcome.
Town twinning offers an excellent opportunity to promote intercultural exchange, develop joint projects and build friendships across national borders. Through cooperation in areas such as culture, education, environment or even sports, both cities can benefit from each other and shape their future together.
Why a partnership with Wilsdruff?
Wilsdruff is a growing and dynamic small town with around 15,000 inhabitants. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Saxon state capital Dresden and has distinguished itself in recent years through committed urban development and a strong regional economy. Wilsdruff attaches great importance to community projects and promotes exchange in the areas of education, culture and sustainable development.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for a town in the West Midlands that shares similar values and is willing to build a long-term, fruitful partnership with Wilsdruff. Together, projects can be developed in a range of areas, including:
• Educational exchange: Connecting schools and educational institutions in both cities.
• Cultural cooperation: joint cultural events, art exhibitions and music projects.
• Environment and sustainability: cooperation in projects to promote renewable energies and sustainable urban development.
• Youth and sports exchange: joint sports tournaments, youth projects and leisure programs.
If your city is interested in a partnership with Wilsdruff, we look forward to hearing from you. Let's build bridges between our cities together and create a partnership that benefits both communities!
An information brochure about Wilsdruff can be found here: AWD_BIB_2022.qxp_bib_2016-2017-satz (wilsdruff.de)
Contact in Wilsdruff:
Carsten Hahn
deputy
Wilsdruff city administration
Nossener Straße 20
01723 Wilsdruff

Tel : +49 35204 463-114
Fax: +49 35204 463-600

E-Mail: post@svwilsdruff.de
Internet: www.wilsdruff.de
We look forward to hearing from you!

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