Column
Press and media articles:
https://umbria7.it/2025/04/i-comuni-umbri-rafforzano-il-legame-con-la-borgogna/
Links to each partner's BET website section:
- https://www.saint-fargeau-septfonds.fr/jumelage
- https://www.saintsauveurenpuisaye.fr/jumelage-franco-italien/
- https://www.treigny.fr/Jumelage-avec-Montecchio.vC.htm
- https://www.bleneau.fr/vivre-%C3%A0-bl%C3%A9neau/les-associations/comit%C3%A9-de-jumelage-bl%C3%A9neau-giove/#gsc.tab=0
Successful conclusion of the First International Workshop of the BET Project: Rural Communities at the Heart of Europe's Future
From April 4th to 7th, 2025, the first International Workshop of the BET – Building European Towns project was held in France. It involved the French municipalities of Bléneau, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, and Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, alongside four Italian delegations from Montecchio, Giove, Penna in Teverina, and Attigliano.
The initiative brought together citizens, local authorities, volunteers, associations, youth, and policymakers, with strong female participation (over 50%). The focus was on strengthening European identity in small communities, especially in rural areas affected by depopulation and aging.
During the workshop, several obstacles to active and multilevel participation of rural citizens were identified, such as language barriers, physical and perceived distance from institutions, bureaucratic complexity, misinformation, lack of awareness, and cultural gaps. These challenges sparked meaningful discussions on how to foster a stronger sense of belonging to the European Union in areas where distrust and detachment from European authorities are often prevalent.
As a result, several good practices and recommendations emerged, including the creation of intergenerational "Dialogue Circles," libraries with informative "EU corners," international cultural weeks between twinned towns, civic workshops to facilitate citizens' access to local and EU institutions, and cross-border volunteering programs for youth and schools.
A key moment of the event was the seminar on the EU's Rural Vision and the demonstration of tools provided by the European Rural Observatory, such as the "My Place" tool, which helped participants feel more connected to the EU agenda and increased trust in digital tools and online programs.
These bottom-up solutions will be further explored during the second event planned as part of the project.
A particularly meaningful highlight was the participation of Senator Dominique Vérien of Yonne, Chairwoman of the Delegation for Women's Rights in the French Senate. Her presence gave the event national and international significance, strengthened the link between citizens and institutions, and emphasized the importance of inclusive policies and gender equality, even in rural areas.
In addition to workshops and seminars, the event offered opportunities to discover local cultural heritage through guided tours and community dinners organized by the twinning committees, creating a warm atmosphere of European friendship and sharing.
This first meeting marked an important step in strengthening European identity in rural areas, promoting dialogue between territories, and building real cooperation for the future of Europe's small communities.
See you in Italy in August for the next BET project event!
BET Second International Event: Rural Communities at the Heart of Europe
From 21 to 24 August, the Second International Event of the BET – Building European Towns project took place in Umbria, bringing together the Italian municipalities of Montecchio, Giove, Penna in Teverina and Attigliano with their French partners from Treigny, Bléneau, Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Fargeau.
The programme combined cultural and convivial moments with key European-focused activities. After the welcoming in Attigliano and the visit to the historic village of Melezzole, the day of 22 August was entirely dedicated to Montecchio, with a journey through its historical and cultural heritage – from the necropolis to the Oil Museum and the Civic Museum – and the central conference of the project: "Rethinking Rural Communities – A bottom-up approach for the future of rural territories".
The conference represented the core of this second event, focusing on the role of rural communities in strengthening European identity and on the importance of participatory bottom-up approaches. It was a moment of dialogue and exchange that gave voice to citizens, administrators, associations and young people, highlighting the need to build together a more inclusive, sustainable, and community-based future.
The European dimension of the BET project was further underlined by the official signing of new cooperation acts: the Friendship and Cooperation Pact between Attigliano and Saint-Fargeau and the Letter of Intent between Montecchio and Treigny. These formal steps pave the way for future twinning agreements and reinforce a network of collaboration and friendship between Italian and French communities.
On 23 August, the programme gave space to local experiences with activities in the different hosting municipalities, while 24 August was the time for farewells and departures.
This second international meeting confirmed the main goal of the project: to build lasting ties among small European towns, to enhance their cultural and social heritage, and to foster a stronger sense of belonging to the European Union. Sharing, exchange and cooperation remain the key words of BET, which now looks forward to its next international event.