Top European dignitaries visited Stockport last week to present the town with the Council of Europe’s impressive Plaque of Honour.
Mrs Edeltraud Gatterer, a former Austrian Deputy and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, officially presented Stockport with the award at a special ceremony at Stockport College on Friday 28th November.
The prestigious prize was awarded to Stockport for its hard work in promoting European ideals. It is only the 15th UK town to achieve this since the prize was first awarded in 1955.
The Plaque is only awarded to town’s which have continued to develop their European work over a number of years after winning the Flag of Honour, which Stockport did in 2003.
Below are some of the projects that Stockport has been involved in to promote European ideals over the last few years which helped gain the award:
Twin Towns – Stockport is twined with Beziers in France and Heilbronn in Germany.
Foreign Language Assistants programme.
Teaching languages in Primary schools.
Stockport’s Chamber of Commerce have strong links and offer work experience exchanges with Beziers.
Music exchange with Heilbronn raising money for the Wellspring charity.
Local Democracy week for Brinnington girls in Brussels.
Disability conference with Twin Towns in Stockport.
Councillor Shan Alexander, Executive Member for Leisure, said: “This is a tremendous honour for Stockport and is something residents should be extremely proud of. Stockport is the only town in the whole of the UK to win this award this year which helps raise the town’s profile within the UK and across Europe.”
Stockport will now apply for the top European prize which has been awarded to just five other towns in the UK.
Topic: Stockport wins top european prize (Read 2229 times)