Partnership shines: Reinickendorf meets Antony for cultural exchange!

Partnership shines: Reinickendorf meets Antony for cultural exchange!

From September 11th to 14th, 2025, a delegation from the Berlin district of Reinickendorf visited the French twin town of Antony. The group was led by Kerstin Köppen (CDU) and Uwe Brockhausen (SPD), supported by Harald Muschner (CDU) as well as members of the district council and the Association for the Promotion of German-French Partnerships Berlin e.V. The travel assignment was primarily aimed at further developing existing relationships with the city of Antony and intensifying cultural exchange. The focus was particularly on the exchange of students and athletes, which underlined the importance of international community relations. Such personal encounters are crucial for European understanding. This was also highlighted by berlin.de.

The partnership between Germany and France is deeply rooted and extends across many areas, from politics to economics to interpersonal communication. In this context, both countries are close partners and allies. Security cooperation has intensified since the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022. The Franco-German Defense and Security Council (DFVSR), which last met on May 28, 2024, serves as a forum for security policy discussions. The fundamental treaties, such as the Élysée Treaty of 1963 and the Aachen Treaty of 2019, form the foundation of this deep cooperation, as the Foreign Office emphasizes.

The role of youth and education

An important aspect of German-French relations is youth exchange. In this context, the German-French young talent network “Generation Europe” was launched. This initiative aims to actively involve young people in the partnership and thus secure future cooperation. The cultural relations between the two countries are also diverse. Institutions such as the German-French Youth Office and the German-French University actively promote intercultural understanding. In addition, the exchange in the education system is supported by numerous school partnerships and bilingual schools, which strengthens the bond between the two countries.

The challenges facing border regions were also addressed. Legal regulations are often incompatible, which makes everyday life more difficult for people in these areas. A “border area impact assessment” was therefore sought to analyze the effects of new regulations and develop possible solutions. This shows how intensive the cooperation is at the local level and that the relations between Germany and France are broadly based. This exchange is supported by the German-French Committee for Cross-Border Cooperation, which was set up in 2020 to reduce obstacles to cross-border coexistence.

Economic cooperation

France and Germany are also important trading partners in Europe. The industrial cooperation using Airbus as an example shows how closely the two nations are intertwined on an economic level. Annual meetings of the heads of large companies and high-level political discussions also take place in order to further deepen economic relations. Barriers and challenges that hinder this collaboration are actively addressed in order to make the relationship fit for the future.

With a dense network of organizations and partnerships that range from the civil society to the political level, the activities and initiatives confirm that the Franco-German relationship is not only historical, but also dynamic and future-oriented. The cooperation, which is based on trust and shared values, is further strengthened by the current international challenges. France continues to be considered Germany's closest and most important partner in Europe, which forms the basis for sustainable and successful cooperation, as allemagneenfrance.diplo.de emphasizes.