Information on the proceedings of the Presidium Meeting of the Prize of Europe Winning Towns
Częstochowa, November 15th, 2002

On November 15th, 2002 a Meeting of the Presidium of the Prize of Europe Wining Towns was held in Częstochowa. Representatives of the following towns – Presidium members took part in the Meeting: Braunfels (Germany), Bursa (Turkey), Częstochowa, Nancy (France) and St. Pölten (Austria). The Council of Europe was represented by the Chairperson of the Prize of Europe Sub-committee Ms Johanna Schicker and Head of the Prize of Europe Section Ms Marie Anne Menger.

Chairman of the Association Mr Wiesław Maras greeted the participants of the Meeting, giving a special welcome to Mr Stanisław Szwabski, Chairman of the City Council of Gdynia, the City which is this year’s winner of the Prize of Europe. Thereafter Mr Maras introduced his successor, the new Mayor of Częstochowa, Mr Tadeusz Wrona, elected on November 10th, 2002 and expressed his hope that the Presidium would entrust to Mr Wrona the continuation of the chairmanship of the Association until the year 2004.

On his part Mr Tadeusz Wrona assured the Meeting that he would attach greatest importance to the development of the towns’ international relations and cooperation, which constitutes a vital contribution to the European integration. He also pointed out that he had been taking part in the work of the Congress of Local and Regional Governments and had been a member of the “Towns and Education” Working Team within the Council of Europe Commission of Culture, Education and Media. Moreover, in the years 1997 – 2001 he had been a Member of Parliament of the Republic Poland. Mr Wrona expressed his full appreciation of the excellent work which Mr Schmidt and Mr Maras had done for the Association, including in particular their efforts to involve young people in the activities of the Association.

As in 2004 the Association of the Prize of Europe Winning Towns will celebrate its 20th anniversary, Mr Wrona put forward the suggestion that on this occasion a meeting of all Prize of Europe Winning Towns should be organized in Częstochowa, especially that in the same year Poland is expected to join the European Union. Mr Wrona also proposed that in 2005, on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Prize of Europe a commemorative medal should be minted to be presented to all the Prize of Europe Winning Towns.

The Presidium unanimously agreed to hand over the chairmanship of the Association to Mr Tadeusz Wrona until the end of the current term of office i.e. until the year 2004. This decision shall be communicated to the participants of the General Meeting of the Association in St. Pölten in 2003.
Mr Wrona accepted the chairmanship of the Association, thanking for the trust bestowed in him and saying that he felt deeply honoured by the decision of the Presidium.

Thereafter the Chairman of the Meeting Mr Maras presented a report on the General Meeting of the Prize of Europe Winning Towns, the conference on tourism and safety in Europe’s historical towns and the Youth Forum “Educational and Job Opportunities for Young People in Europe”, which had taken place in Bursa from 12th – 13th July, 2002.

At the Chairman’s request Mr Stanisław Szwabski presented the achievements of Gdynia, for which the City was awarded the Prize of Europe.

During the business part of the Meeting the following matters were agreed upon:

 · date of the General Assembly in St. Pölten i.e. 15th – 18th May, 2003. The timing is connected with the 500th Anniversary of St. Pölten City Hall.
- topic of the conference accompanying the General Meeting: “Contribution of Towns and Communes to the Preparation of Young People for their Responsibilities in the New Europe.”
- outline programme of the General Meeting and accompanying celebrations, presented by Prof. S. Nasko.
- conditions of participation in the International Youth Forum:

- Age: 18 – 25 years
- Participants: 2 young people from each town /
city
- Travelling and accommodation costs: to be paid by the delegating town /
city
- Board and cultural programme: to be provided by the host city.

- invitation for entries in a competition to design a logo of the Association – to be sent out to schools of fine arts in the Prize of Europe Winning Towns.
- release of a CD with recipes for regional or national dishes.
- organizing an international youth sports competition in the year 2005, with possible financial contribution of the Council of Europe. The City of Gdynia offered to organize the aforesaid competition.

Summing up the meeting it was stated that in 2004 Częstochowa would host the General Meeting of the Association and an accompanying big international event, whereas in 2005 the General Meeting would be held in Strasbourg and would be connected with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Prize of Europe.
Closing the Meeting, Mr Wiesław Maras thanked the delegates present for coming to Częstochowa and for their co-operation so far. Mr Tadeusz Wrona thanked the delegates again for their confidence and for the appointment to the position of the Chairman and promised to make all efforts to continue the activity of the Association and make use of the potential lying in European towns and cities.
Finally a photograph of the participants was taken to commemorate the event and thereupon the Meeting was closed.

On Saturday the delegates to the Częstochowa session visited the historical salt mine in Wieliczka.