Találkozás a barátság és partnerség jegyében

Between 30–31 May and 1 June 2025, Kimle hosted delegations from its twin towns. A delegation of 51 participants arrived from Cartigliano (Italy), and 98 participants from Bős (Slovakia) to take part in the International Maypole Dance-Out event. In line with the objectives of the project, the varied programme provided opportunities for  individuals from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds to engage in dialogue, strengthen mutual understanding and tolerance, and contribute to the reinforcement of European identity.
The project created the possibility for local citizens and guests to participate in an EU-level event, where cultural diversity, intergenerational cooperation, and joint  reflection were placed in the foreground. The presence of the Europe Direct office supported the involvement of different generations in the discussion of EU-related issues, while the reception of new information laid an appropriate foundation for the future of the European Union.
Article 165 of the Treaty of Lisbon places particular emphasis on the participation of young people.
With this in mind, nearly half of the delegates from both Cartigliano and Bős were young people, who represent the future of the European Union.

Day 1 – Presentation of Kimle
The Italian delegation arrived and was accommodated in guesthouses, the tourist hostel, and host families. A village tour and welcome reception were organised, including a pálinka tasting (Hungarikum), a presentation on Kimle’s history, civil organisations, and a photo exhibition on the twinning milestones. A roundtable discussion with representatives (involving the Croatian and German Minority Self-Governments of Kimle) focused on cultural values, traditions, diversity, and minority
issues, contributing to the strengthening of European identity. The day concluded with a communal dinner and a wine tasting of five wines from the Pannonhalma wine region (Recognised National Value).

Day 2 – Sport, culture, traditions
The Slovak delegation arrived, and a Firefighter Olympics was held with mixed international youth teams. Parallel cultural and leisure activities included village discovery tours (with multilingual publications), dragon boating, and motorboat excursions on the river Mosoni-Danube.
Guests explored local values through a craft fair and tastings of cheese (regional value), honey (Hungarikum), and kürtöskalács (Hungarikum). A highlight was the inauguration of the Friendship Fountain, symbolising the lasting ties between Kimle, Cartigliano, and Bős.
Cultural performances featured ensembles from all three towns, followed by Hungarian folk music and dance (Recognised National Value). The traditional Maypole Dance-Out was presented as a living heritage event with active involvement of the delegations. Evening programmes included concerts by
Hungarian and Italian artists. Dinner offered an international selection of dishes prepared on site by delegations and local hosts.
The Europe Direct office engaged young participants with quizzes and games on the EU and human rights. Twin-town signs at the village entrances were also renewed to reflect the official partnership with Bős.

Day 3 – Excursion and closing event
The Italian delegation participated in a regional excursion, visiting Győr, the UNESCO World Heritage Pannonhalma Archabbey, and Szigetköz villages, with a traditional Hungarian lunch in Győrújbarát.
The closing ceremony in Kimle featured acknowledgements and the cultural performance Four Tenors for Women’s Hearts, presented by Slovak and Hungarian opera singers (singing Italian), attended by 250 guests. The programme concluded with a standing reception, offering space for informal exchange and evaluation of the three-day event.
The event can be described as three meaningful and inspiring days, filled with intensive preparation, organisation, and great joy. Kimle once again became a meeting point for three European nations and for the three local nationalities (Croatian, German, and Hungarian), creating a truly diverse and multicultural environment.
Throughout the implementation, it was essential that the project partners set an example and promote European values. The project was carried out in a practical manner, ensuring that participants were active contributors to the programme and enriched it with their own input. Preparations began a year in advance, with the partners jointly agreeing on the structure of the delegations, ensuring equal
representation of men and women and taking into account age diversity. Teamwork between the partners and the full use of available resources were decisive in achieving the project’s objectives. The event significantly contributed to the promotion of intercultural dialogue.
Preparatory measures: Project information was regularly published on the websites and social media platforms of Kimle, Bős, and Cartigliano, ensuring citizens were kept informed of progress. Official invitations and posters were distributed to the mayors of the twin towns for communication to their delegations. The local television channel Mi Világunk produced video coverage of the event, and, in
advance, broadcast introductory Italian language lessons to help local residents learn basic expressions. These recordings were also shared on the community’s social media page.
Community involvement: The programme was designed to engage multiple generations, with the support of local helpers. These included volunteers, members of the Kimle Gardening Club, local cultural groups, the Kimle Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, the Kimle Dragon Water Sports Association, municipal staff, council representatives, and the chairs and members of the minority selfgovernments.
Overall, the EU-funded project successfully combined education, identity-building, and intercultural exchange through enjoyable and interactive activities, realised in excellent partnership and teamwork.

Links to dissemination:
Kimle (HU):
KIMLeVENT – Találkozás a barátság és partnerség jegyében – Kimle Község
Cartigliano polgármesterének és... - Kimle Község Önkormányzata | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/952842602158204/permalink/1885462735562848/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/952842602158204/permalink/1867390220703433/
Bős (SK):
https://www.facebook.com/100064688235311/posts/1128474512652146/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
/esemenyek/hirek/ertesites-86hu.html
/udalosti/aktuality/den-priatelstva-medzinarodne-vytancovanie-maja-v-obcikimle-partnerske-stretnutie-obci-88sk.html
/esemenyek/hirek/a-baratsag-napja-nemzetkozi-majusfa-kitancolas-kimlentestvertelepulesi-talalkozo-88hu.html
https://www.facebook.com/mestogabcikovo
Cartigliano (IT):
www.comune.cartigliano.vi.it
https://www.comune.cartigliano.vi.it/notizie/kimle.html
🤝 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟'𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗢 𝗗𝗜 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗚𝗜𝗢 𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼... - Comune di Cartigliano | Facebook
🇮🇹 🇭🇺 𝟯𝟭 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜 𝗗𝗜 𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗭𝗜𝗔 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔:... - Comune di Cartigliano | Facebook

Detailed program:

May 30, Friday:

Welcoming of Italian Guests at the Community Center – Refreshments and Dinner
 Exhibition Opening
 Slideshow of previous meetings
 Music program featuring Cartigliano's modern dance group
 Getting to know each other – guests and hosts
 Dinner

May 31, Saturday:

Arrival and Welcoming of Guests from Bős
Morning – Sports Field:
 Firefighter Olympics with international teams – organized by the Bős Fire Department and Kimle Volunteer Firefighters Association – youth competitions
 Sports activities (dragon boating on the Danube, kayaking and canoeing, pedal boating, motorboating)
 Treasure Hunt Tours – exploring the village's values in mixed teams – “33 Danube Pebbles” tour
Afternoon – Community Center and surroundings:
12:00 – 14:00: lunch in the event tent
14:00 – 17:00: Discovering Kimle – village tour with the mini-train
 Exhibition of firefighting equipment, tools, and clothing at the fire station
 Open Gates – visits to small local businesses, farms, and gardens with tastings
14:00 – 18:00: Presentation of Hungarian Specialties (Hungarikumok)
 Craft workshops
 Artisan market
 Wine and pálinka tasting
 Cheese tasting
 Honey
 Kürtőskalács (chimney cake), lángos
15:00: Ceremonial Opening
 Reaffirmation of cooperation agreements between twin towns
 Roundtable discussion on cultural diversity, ethnicities, and the cultural values of the twin towns
 Fountain of Friendship - Inauguration Ceremony
16:00: Maypole Dance with performances by cultural groups
 Traditional folk dance by Répcelak Dance Group and Fajkusz Band
 Modern dance performance by Kimle schoolchildren
 Senior dance and Croatian KUD Konoplje Dance Group (Kimle)
 Joint choir performance in Hungarian and Italian by Kimle's three choirs
 Latin American dances by Cartigliano Dance Group
 Folk dance performance by Bős Dance Group
 Cutting down of the Maypole with the help of the Kimle and Bős Fire Departments
18:00: Percussion performance by Setup Ensemble
19:00: Dinner with traditional national dishes (Lasagne, Knödel with braised cabbage, Pörkölt, Lángos)
20:00: Hen House Band performance
21:00: Erox Martini performance
22:00: Street party
24:00: Tent closes
June 1, Sunday:
Excursions:
 Adults: trip to Pannonhalma
 Children: trip to Futura Science Center in Mosonmagyaróvár
18:00 – Community Center:

"TENORS for Women’s Hearts" – opera excerpts and popular songs performed in Italian by two Hungarian and two Slovakian singers
20:00: Dinner for guests and hosts – reminiscing about the three-day event, conversations, and farewells
Key Achievements:
 Strengthened partnerships through intercultural and intergenerational collaboration.
 Enhanced European identity, tolerance, and mutual understanding among participants.
 Promoted language learning and active citizenship through informal educational tools.
 Ensured equal representation of age groups and genders in the delegations.
 Enabled new youth initiatives and plans for future cooperation (e.g., joint camps and exchanges).
 Created a lasting symbolic landmark (Friendship Well).
 Documented the event via local media and shared updates regularly through websites and social media platforms.

Results and impacts:
 In the preparation period Italian lessions were offered, giving multiplie advantages: better communication, improved hospitality, cultural openness. The language course enhances the success of the event while promoting cultural understanding and building community in the European Union.
 The municipality of Kimle hosted delegations from its twin towns: 51 participants from Cartigliano (Italy) and 98 from Bős (Slovakia) attended the International Maypole Celebration and other programs. Aligned with the project’s objectives, the event offered a diverse programme that fostered dialogue among participants from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, promoting mutual nderstanding, tolerance, and a stronger sense of European identity.
 The project enabled both local citizens and international guests to take part in the event highlighting cultural diversity and intergenerational cooperation. The presence of the Europe Direct office supported meaningful discussions on EU-related topics across age groups, providing participants with up-to-date information and strengthening engagement with the future of the European Union.
 In line with Article 165 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which emphasises youth participation, nearly half of the delegates from both Cartigliano and Bős were young people, reflecting the project's commitment to involving the next generation in shaping the future of Europe.
 The town twinning between Kimle and Cartigliano (Italy) began in 1994, initiated through a personal connection. Over time, cooperation extended to civil society organisations, including rural development foundations, sports associations, cultural groups, and photography clubs. Educational institutions also became involved. During the most recent event, youth groups such as the Kimle Water Sports Association and a hiking group from Cartigliano explored new opportunities for future collaboration.
 The partnership with Bős (Slovakia) began spontaneously in 2010 through cooperation between the volunteer fire brigades of the two towns. Beyond the fire brigades, strong relationships have also formed between the towns' choirs and gardening clubs. Thanks to these partnerships, a diverse cultural programme was implemented, further strengthening the cooperation and ties between the municipalities. Each participant left the event with fresh inspiration and new ideas for future collaboration.
We are truly excited and look forward to building further collaborations in the future.