Saarlouis Mayor Marc Speicher Tours the Schengen Zone of Europe

In a significant visit, the Mayor of Saarlouis, Marc Speicher, journeyed to the Luxembourgish municipality of Schengen. This meeting aimed to exchange views on common European values and strengthen the partnership between the two border towns.

The visit was marked by a tour of the historic ship, the "Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa". This vessel holds a special place in European history, as it was the location where the Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985. The Agreement, a key milestone in European integration, was signed by the representatives of five European countries: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The main focus of the meeting between Mayor Speicher and Schengen's mayor, Michel Gloden, was the new Schengen Museum. The museum, which documents and brings to life the history and significance of the Schengen Agreement, was a point of interest for both parties. Martine Kneip, the museum's director, guided the guests through the new exhibition.

Mayor Speicher emphasized that Schengen is a symbol of a united Europe. He reaffirmed the close partnership between Schengen and Saarlouis, stating that Saarlouis, being the largest city beyond the German border, shares a strong European bond with Schengen. Mayor Gloden, in turn, considered Saarlouis an important neighbor and partner.

During the visit, Mayor Speicher called for the functionality of the Schengen area to be restored through effective border protection. He criticized political failures that, in his view, have allowed criminals to exploit the opportunities of the Schengen area more effectively than European security authorities.

The visit to the "Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa" was a special highlight of the meeting. The historic ship is significant to the history of European integration and serves as a reminder of the progress made towards a united Europe. The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared responsibility of Schengen and Saarlouis to actively maintain and further develop the European idea.

The head of the Europa and International Cooperation department in Saarlouis, Christiane Bähr, was also part of the visit. The meeting between the two mayors is expected to foster further collaboration between the two border towns, strengthening the European bond that unites them.