When former French President Charles de Gaulle proclaimed Franco-German friendship on the steps of the Old Town Hall in 1962 in the presence of Konrad Adenauer, this heralded a new era of partnership and understanding between Germany and France.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Ursula Sautter recalled this historic moment when welcoming the guests to the Old Town Hall. She pointed out that the city's Golden Book already contains the entries of three presidents of the French Republic (General Charles de Gaulle, 1962; Valery Giscard d'Estaing, 1980; Francois Mitterand, 1987) and three presidents of the French National Assembly (Achille Antoine Peretti, 1973; Louis Mermaz, 1984; Laurent Fabius 1999). Ursula Sautter: "These names stand for decades of cooperation, dialog and friendship between our peoples. The entries also reflect the close ties between the French Republic and the city of Bonn."
As examples of the friendly relations that have grown over decades, the mayor cited the partnerships between the districts of Beuel and Mirecourt, Bad Godesberg and Villemomble and Bad Godesberg and Saint-Claud. She also referred to numerous institutions of Franco-German cooperation based in Bonn, such as the Institut français Bonn, the Ernst Robert Curtius Center at the University of Bonn and the École de Gaulle-Adenauer. Their students performed two songs on the occasion of the registration.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas said: "Bonn is a city steeped in history. In addition to its geographical proximity to France, Bonn has always been the scene of close friendship between our countries. Today, we are continuing the Franco-German story in Bonn. With a message for tolerance, for the protection of minorities and a joint stand against anti-Semitism."
Background Golden Book
The Golden Book of the City of Bonn documents both the history of the city and the history of the Federal Republic of Germany: crowned and uncrowned heads of state have signed it, as have personalities from the worlds of politics, science, business, art and sport. The Golden Book was introduced in 1926. The fourth volume was begun on the occasion of the opening of the WorldCCBonn extension in June 2015. Further information can be found on the city's website at www.bonn.de/goldenes-buch.
Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly
The focus of the tenth DFPV Assembly at the World Conference Center Bonn was the promotion of mutual language learning in Germany and France and the Middle East conflict. The meeting was opened at midday by the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, and the President of the Assemblée Nationale, Yaël Braun-Pivet.
The Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly is made up of 100 members, 50 Members of the German Bundestag and 50 Members of the Assemblée Nationale, who meet at least twice a year, alternating between Germany and France. The Assembly last met in Strasbourg in May 2023. The bilateral national chamber is unique in Europe in this form.
This institutionalized cooperation at parliamentary level is based on the Franco-German Parliamentary Agreement, which was adopted by the Assemblée Nationale on 11 March 2019 and by the German Bundestag on 20 March 2019.
Further information on the DFPV and the current session can be found at https://www.bundestag.de/dfpv (opens in a new tab)