Absichtserklärung unterschrieben: Wismar und Kemi wollen zusammenarbeiten und sich austauschen
Die Hansestadt Wismar und Kemi wollen gemeinsam in fünf Feldern zusammenarbeiten und sich austauschen.
Die Themenfelder sind:
- Brandbekämpfung, Zivil-/Katastrophenschutz
- Nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung, Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien
- Tourismus
- Jugendbegegnungen
- Begegnungen zwischen Bürgerinnen und Bürgern
Hier finden Sie die Absichtserklärung in englischer Sprache:
Letter of Intent
between the Hanseatic City of Wismar, represented by the Mayor, Mr Thomas Beyer,
and the City of Kemi, represented by the Mayor, Mr Matti Ruotsalainen
The Hanseatic city of Wismar and the Finnish city of Kemi have been twinned since 1959. In the period 1-4 August 2024, a delegation from Kemi visited the Hanseatic City of Wismar, following the invitation of Mayor Thomas Beyer. Guests of the Hanseatic City of Wismar were the Mayor of the City of Kemi, Mr Matti Ruotsalaien, and the two city council chairmen, Mr Pekka Tiitinen (Chairman of the City Board) and Mr Reijo Viitala (Chairman of the City Council). Both mayors would like to intensify the co-operation between the twin cities and strengthen it in the long term.
Five thematic areas have been prioritised for cooperation, taking into account both the administrative levels of the two cities as well as the city's population. The topics include medium-term and long-term co-operation plans.
Topic area 1: Firefighting, civil protection/disaster control
Topic area 2: Sustainable urban development, sustainability strategies
Topic area 3: Tourism
Topic area 4: Youth encounters
Topic area 5: Meetings between citizens
Topic 1: Firefighting, civil protection/disaster control
Contact for the Hanseatic City of Wismar: Fire Protection Office, Mr Paul Wehry, Head of Office
Contact for the Wellbeing Services County of Lapland: Chief of Southern operational area, Mr Jyri Keränen
An expert exchange is planned during a delegation visit to Kemi by representatives of the Hanseatic City of Wismar and the district of Northwest-Mecklenburg from the areas of civil protection/disaster control/fire protection from 29 August to 1 September 2024. As the district of Northwest-Mecklenburg is reorganising its civil protection, there is great interest in an exchange of experiences with Finnish colleagues.
Topic 2: Sustainable urban development, sustainability strategies
Contact for the Hanseatic City of Wismar: Office for Sustainable Urban Development, Project Management and World Heritage, Mrs Kerry Zander, Head of Office
Contact for the city of Kemi: Chief of Sustainable development, Mrs Eija Kinnunen
The consistent focus of the city administration of Kemi on sustainability in various areas is forward-looking. To date, there has been no comparable approach in the Hanseatic city of Wismar. It is therefore of particular interest to the Hanseatic City of Wismar to maintain a continuous dialogue on various aspects of the two cities' current and future sustainability strategies.
Topic 3: Tourism
Contact for the Hanseatic City of Wismar: Office for Tourism and Culture, Mrs Sibylle Donath, Head of Office
Contact for the city of Kemi: Chief of Business Development, Mrs Hanna Alila
From a tourism/marketing perspective, both cities have special characteristics as two very different locations in the Baltic Sea region, which can be emphasised and strengthened through targeted cooperation. Due to changing climatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, a possible long-term trend towards the Baltic Sea region as holidays destination can be assumed.
In the medium term, cooperation in the area of staff training with reciprocal stays in the partner cities and an on-site exchange of employees, e.g. on the respective tourism concepts, is desirable. Special emphasis could be placed on the fields of summer and winter tourism and sustainable/green tourism. The cities should also promote each other more through measures in both print and online media.
Topic 4: Youth exchanges
Contact for the Hanseatic City of Wismar: Office for Education, Youth, Sport and Funding Matters, Mrs Dr Anne Lepper, Head of Office
Contact for the city of Kemi: Chief of Free Time Activities, Mrs Marke Rautiala
The Children's and Youth Parliament of the Hanseatic City of Wismar and The Youth Council of City of Kemi could share their ideas and change good practices. There could also be a focus on political education, e.g. visits to political institutions and getting to know the municipal democratic system.
A long-term exchange between the two youth councils should be the aim. The topics of the exchange should primarily come from the young people's world (leisure time, hobbies) and show their opportunities to participate in political processes, learn and live democracy.
Topic 5: Encounters between citizens
Contact for the Hanseatic City of Wismar: Public Relations/Press Office, Mr Benjamin Leers, Representative for International Relations and Town Twinning
Contact for the city of Kemi: Development and administration Director, Mr Jukka Vilen
The municipalities of Wismar and Kemi want to organise and test various exchange formats, both online and in the form of face-to-face meetings. These could be joint workshops or webinars, training programmes or cultural events.
The city administrations of Kemi and Wismar are jointly examining funding possibilities, for example through EU funding programmes such as CERV, and advance applications.
The aim is to work towards a citizen-oriented, equality-promoting, forward-looking and constructive exchange that involves the younger generation and strengthens the sense of responsibility for the European project on both sides as well as intercultural dialogue.
Wismar, date Kemi, date
____15.01.2025_____________ _____________15.01.2025___________
Thomas Beyer Matti Ruotsalainen
Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Wismar Mayor of the City of Kemi
Rovaniemi, date
____15.01.2025_____________
Markus Aarto
Director of Rescue Servises of Wellbeing Services County of Lapland