Franco-German Society gets off to a flying start in its anniversary year

The German-French Society Bocholt e.V. (DFG) has now celebrated its 50th anniversary with a kick-off event. Almost 100 members and friends of the society gathered at the "Filetgran" restaurant to toast five decades of successful Franco-German friendship and cooperation - and to look ahead.

Heiner Böing-Messing, Deputy Chairman of the DFG and long-time supporter of Franco-German relations, recalled the founding of the organisation in 1975, which was brought to life on the initiative of 37 committed citizens from Bocholt. He particularly emphasised the merits of city director Werner Gillen and Günter Hochgartz, who laid the foundation stone for the DFG as driving forces. "Today, Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff combines both functions in one person", said Böing-Messing, who also welcomed two founding members, Leo Heßling and Ludwig Ratermann. "50 years of DFG means that we had over 400 family memberships at the peak, it means many cookery courses, many Buffet Amicales, many visits to France and many return visits, but also many annual congresses, with the 40th annual congress taking place in Bocholt in 1995."

Involving the next generations

According to Böing-Messing, such a community can only function if people get involved. He remembered Werner Brand, who was at the helm for 20 years, thanked the honorary president Heike Schoo, who was at the helm for 24 years, and Wilfried Flüchter, who was chairman before him.

A central point of Böing-Messing's speech was the discussion about the need to strengthen the DFG with new, committed members. The association needs a "fresh cell cure" in order to keep the friendship and dialogue alive in the coming years. According to Böing-Messing, young talent in particular is crucial in order to continue to shape cultural and political exchange. For the future, the DFG is counting on the continuation of these traditions and the involvement of the next generation in the joint work. The exchange between cultures will continue to play a central role in the coming years in order to build "bridges" and promote dialogue between nations.

In his speech, Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff emphasised the importance of the Franco-German partnership. "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come", Kerkhoff quoted Victor Hugo, and emphasised the relevance of this partnership not only for the cities of Bocholt and Aurillac as well as Arpajon-sur-Cère, but also for a united Europe. The exchange and co-operation between Germany and France are indispensable for the European integration process.

Anniversary prize of the Integration Council

Juan Lopez Casanava, Chairman of the Integration Council, praised the courage of the founding members, many of whom had lived through the Second World War, in founding a society with links to France in 1975. "When an association or society has existed for 50 years, praise is due to the members and those responsible, who have held the society together with their commitment." Together with Bruno Wansing, the integration officer of the city of Bocholt, Lopez Casanava presented the anniversary prize of the Integration Council, which is endowed with 300 euros.

Sonja Wießmeier from EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt, who had organised the evening together with Heiner Böing-Messing, conveyed greetings from the twin towns of Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cère and read out a greeting. Jochen Hake, President of the Vereinigung Deutsch-Französischer Gesellschaften (VDFG) für Europa e.V., emphasised the importance of relations between the two countries. The Franco-German societies are an important link, he said.

The lecture

Florian Staudt, speaker at the Hamburg Representation in Berlin and member of the European Commission's EUROPE DIRECT Speakers Pool Team, spoke about the political situation in France, Franco-German relations and the impact on Europe. "It is like a couple's therapy", said Staudt, "in order to bring the cooled relationship back on track, a joint assessment of the situation and definition of goals is required. In addition, each must show understanding for the national interests of the other and recognise these." In the areas of foreign and security policy, financial and economic policy, energy policy and migration policy, there are sometimes clear differences in the relationship between Germany and France.

Staudt advised accepting changes and developments in the country partnership, creating space for communication and enabling open exchange, and speaking the language of the other country - "in the figurative as well as the literal sense of the word".

Further highlights in the anniversary year

The Deutsch-Französische Gesellschaft Bocholt e.V. is looking ahead to upcoming highlights, including a trip to Champagne in May 2025 (registrations at info(at)dfgbocholt(dot)de) as well as a festive banquet on 8 November and the celebration of 14 July, the French bank holidays on Sunday, 13 July.

Supporters

Heiner Böing-Messing thanked the sponsors, without whom such an event would not be possible. The Franco-German Society receives support from the Franco-German Civic Fund, EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt, Europa-Union Bocholt e.V., Bocholter Energie- und Wasserversorgung, "Haus der Weine" and Stadtsparkasse Bocholt.

Much more information about the DFG will be available on the newly designed website at www.dfgbocholt.de, which is due to be published at the end of January.

Funding from the Franco-German Civic Fund

The event is sponsored by the Franco-German Citizens' Fund as part of the Franco-German Day. The Franco-German Citizens' Fund advises, networks and finances projects that bring Franco-German friendship and Europe to life for the general public. It promotes a variety of formats and topics, has a low threshold and is open to all civil society players. The Citizens' Fund is based on the Treaty of Aachen concluded between Germany and France in 2019 and was established in April 2020. It is implemented by the Franco-German Youth Office (FGYO) and is financed in equal parts by the German and French governments.