Wielkopolska

Representation in Brussels

Since 2003, Emilia-Romagna and Wielkopolska have shared a representation in Brussels together with the partner Regions Land Hessen and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This partnership facilitates dialogue with the EU institutions and makes it possible to represent regional interests within the EU, contributing to the process of European integration.

Jugendpreis contest

Since 2006, the Emilia-Romagna Region has participated in the Youth Prize Contest organised by the Hessian Academy of Research and Planning in Rural Areas together with the partner Regions Land Hessen, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Wielkopolska. The contest, in Italian and German, is open to young people aged 12 to 21. It takes place in cooperation with schools and universities. The aim of the contest is to strengthen the sense of belonging of young people from the four twin Regions to the European Union and to encourage them to work for an inclusive, supportive and tolerant society.  The theme for 2023 is ‘Data’, to stimulate reflection on the role of data in contemporary society and to make young people better aware of the opportunities and risks of using data.

• In September 2022, Wielkopolska organised the webinar “Doing Business in Italy”. Aimed at Polish companies, this initiative promoted the development of economic relations with the Emilia-Romagna Region and Italy and it featured President Bonaccini among the speakers.
• In June 2022, the Vice-Marshal of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship for Health, Education and Welfare, Paulina Stochniałek participated as a speaker at the conference “Accompanying transitions, tackling inequalities”. The previous day, she had met with the then Vice-President Elly Schlein at the European Policy Coordination Unit for the Shaping Fair Cities project on Agenda 2030, in the town hall of Imola. The project ended last year.
• On 16 and 17 May 2022, two representatives of the Agency for Energy and Sustainable Development of Modena (AESS - Agenzia per l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile) attended the Hydrogen Technology Forum held in Poznan on behalf of the Councillorship for Economic Development. At the forum, they had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with representatives not only from Wielkopolska, but also from Hesse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and North Braabant.

Agriculture

• Since 2018, Wielkopolska has been part of the Agriregions Coalition together with the Emilia-Romagna Region. Agriregions is a European network that aims to exchange experiences on rural development and to share insights and proposals on the future of agriculture and the CAP. The network also includes: Açores, Andalusia, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brittany, Castilla y Leon, Extremadura, Lombardy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, the District of Sibiu and Tuscany.

Europe

• Since autumn 2003, the two Regions have shared a common representation in Brussels (together with Land Hessen and Nouvelle-Aquitaine). This partnership makes it possible to devise common strategies, promote transnational projects and ensure the exchange of information and best practices. It represents an example of solid collaboration that benefits the respective regions and the European institutions.

Twin Towns

• The Municipality of Imola is twinned with the Municipality of Pila

Twin Provinces

• The Province of Forlì-Cesena is twinned with three Powiats of Wielkopolska:

  1. Ostrow
  2. Gniezno
  3. Poznan
• The Metropolitan City of Bologna signed a letter of intent and an agreement with the Municipality of Poznan