It began in 1988 …
when Michel Bouchet the mayor of Cissé, France sought rural communities from (then) all 12 of the EU member countries. It was an idea close to his heart to bring people from Europe closer together. He forged a German-French contact with Hepstedt and found willing participants for his concept. From the beginning Hepstedt has been a charter member.
In 1994 and 2004 Hepstedt played host to the European partnercommunities. Consequently the Friends of Europe Hepstedt was founded to support the communities’ partnership through their work. Interested citizens from surrounding villages were also encouraged to join the group. Every year (in the now 27 strong country membership) a partnership meeting is held with the opportunty for 10 members as a delegation to take part. Furthermore small meetings and workshops are held in different countries.
Additionally our community’s youth organise their own meetings, topics and events.
Chronicle
- 1988
- Michel Bouchet meets Willy-Walter Dei and the mayor at that time of Hepstedt, Hans-Hermann Otten. He fills them with enthusiasm for a "Charter of rural communities
- 1989
- The Charter is officially founded. The first Annual-Meeting takes place in Cissé.
- 1994
- Annual-Meeting in Hepstedt
- 1995
- Sweden, Finland and Austria become members of the European Union
- 2004
- The second Annual-Meeting in Hepstedt takes place, together with its 1000 anniversary.
- The Charter gets new members from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slowenia, Slowakiai Hungary Malta and Cyprus
- 2007
- Romania and Bulgary become members of the EU and the charter.