France/50 ans de jumelage entre Cosne et Bad-Ems : une amitié européenne à faire vivre

The year 2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the twinning between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Bad-Ems. A Franco-German friendship that will be celebrated from May 9 to 12 in Cosne, and which needs to be renewed to attract young people.

While many twinnings fade and disappear, like the one between Cosne and the Belgians of Herentals, others are deeply rooted and endure. Like the one with the Germans from Bad-Ems, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Thursday May 9, when a delegation from Bad-Ems will welcome almost 90 visitors, supported by the Cosne Association for International Exchanges and the municipality.

Half a century of history

Cosne has long sought to open up to Europe. Although the first twinning (two others were to follow, with Herentals and the English from Harpenden in 1982) was with Bad-Ems in 1974, it took two years to approach the town. In 1972, the town council sent one of its members to initiate contact with the Bad-Ems parliament, which was keen to work towards a twinning arrangement with a French town at the time. The Amicale Bourgogne-Rhénanie-Palatinat (Burgundy-Rhineland-Palatinate Association), which was helping to bring these two regions closer together, sent him documents about Cosne. In July 1973, it was the turn of a German delegation to visit the banks of the Loire.

In the meantime, an administrative development may have further encouraged rapprochement: the associated communes of Bad-Ems saw Cosne and Cours merge to form Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire.

Then things accelerated. On September 17, 1973, the German town council approved the merger. From November 11 to 14, a delegation from the Loire, led by its mayor Robert Nabéris, visited Germany, and a text defining the priorities for future exchanges was drawn up.

Rainy wedding, happy marriage...

It all culminated on September 7, 1974, when the official charter (partnershaftsurkunde in Goethe's language) was signed in Cosne by the mayor of Cosne and the German mayor, Willi Diel. Various festive events were organized for three days in Cosne, and the following year, on June 19, a Cosne delegation received an unforgettable welcome on the banks of the Ems.

At the same time, a twinning committee was set up to manage future exchanges, first chaired by Dr Botté, then by Madame Walbaum. In 1977, the Committee modified its statutes and became independent.

Already, the traces of the twinning had become part of history, with the inauguration of the Bad-Ems square in front of the courthouse in 1978, and the Platz der Partnerstadt Cosne-sur-Loire in May 1979.

Renewing long-standing ties

In addition to these visible links, human ties were strengthened with a fine demonstration of solidarity when, in 1981, after the tornado that ravaged Villechaud, the mayor presented his counterpart, Doctor Jacques Huyghues-Des-Étages, with a cheque for 13.500 deutsch marks, or 33,700 francs at the time. Exchanges with sports sections (handball, judo, soccer, table tennis, etc.) begin, and are extended over time. Cultural exchanges were more timid, but in 1981, twenty artists exhibited on the banks of the Ems.

In recent years, despite the commitment of successive committee leaders, the committee has run out of steam. Franco-German exchanges continue, but with a small number of participants, due to the difficulty of finding new members. This difficulty in finding young people to pass on the torch is worrying.

Weaving new links is what the celebrations of this half-century of twinning are all about.

An event with a substantial programThursday, May 9, at around 5 p.m., the German delegation will be welcomed in Place de la Pêcherie by the Harmonie de Cosne, before a vin d'honneur in Place de Bad-Ems. The next day, a visit to Paris with a trip on the Seine. Saturday, May 11: a day at leisure, but with plenty of events (10:30 a.m., Cosne - Bad-Ems rugby match; 3:00 p.m.30, planting of the 50th anniversary tree in front of the village hall; anniversary dinner at the Cours village hall in the evening).
The Bad Ems delegation will leave Cosne on Sunday, May 12.

For the record, two cyclists from Bad Ems, Karl Schupp and Christiane Joseph, decided to cycle to Cosne. A ten-day journey to arrive at the same time as the two buses of their fellow residents. A way of adding a sporting dimension to the event.

Source: www.lejdc.fr