COMPIEGNE - France

A town in the northern part of France, north-east of Paris, on the Oise river in the Paris Basin. 39.9 thousand residents (1990). On 11 November 1918, the settlement on German capitulation and end of the First World War was signed in Rethondes, in the region of Compiegne. A center of metal, machinery, chemical, and food industries. Monuments: Gothic churches: St. Jacques (13-14th century), St. Antoine (16th century), late Gothic town hall (16th century), classicistic palace (18th century). The agreement for mutual contacts was signed in Compiegne on 26 May 2000. It was crowned with the agreement for partnership of twin towns concluded on 9 February 2002 in Elbląg. The main purpose of cooperation is development and consolidation of democracy, as well as friendship between the nations of Poland and France. The partners declare actions in order to constantly exchange experience and information concerning all the areas of their towns' life. The agreement concluded helps exchange of specialists, children, and youngsters, as well as contacts between representatives of associations. It enables business contacts, especially of small and medium enterprises.
http://www.compiegne.fr

           COQUIMBO - Chile

Serena, La, a town in northern Chile on the Elqui river. The administrative center for the Coquimbo region. 120 thousand residents (1992). A trading center of the agricultural region on the Pan-American Trail. Food and leather industries. A tourist center. Destroyed by earthquakes several time (e.g. in 1992). The agreement for cooperation between the towns was concluded in 1995.
http://www.coquimboonline.cl

            DRUSKININKAI - Lithuania

Druskininkai, a town in southern Lithuania, near the border with Poland and Belarus. It is situated in the middle of the complex of the Oranski-Druskininkai Forest being an extension of the Augustów Forest. Approx. 30 thousand residents. A known climatic and balneology health resort (therapeutic mud, mineral water springs). A modern sanatorium complex with approx. 5 thousand beds (treating digestive system and bile ducts, blood circulation system, upper airways, and women's diseases). An artistic craft center. Museum of M. K. Ciurlionis. The beginning of cooperation dates back to 1996 when the agreement for cooperation between Elbląg and Druskininkai was signed. The agreement provides for cooperation in the field of public utilities, environment protection, culture, and exchange of information in different fields, including local government experience.
http://www.druskininkai.lt

            KALININGRAD – Russian Federation

Kaliningrad District; 450 thousand residents, a trading and fishing port, an industrial center, the headquarters of the Kaliningrad District authorities. Until 1946 - Königsberg, Polish name Królewiec, a city in western Russia on the Pregola river, the main city of the autonomous Kaliningrad District. Established in 1255 by the Teutonic Order, played an important role as a Prussian port and a Hansa member. From 1457 the headquarters of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. In 1945 incorporated in the USSR. Strongly developed shipyard, machinery, and food (fish processing) industries. A railway node and an airport. The agreement for cooperation between the cities was signed in 1994. The cooperation relates to direct contacts between government, social, and business organizations, as well as the cities' manufacturing and trade enterprises, in the filed of culture, science, and environment protection as well as trans-border cooperation.
http://www.klgd.ru

            LEER - Germany

"Gate of Western Friesland" – it is how the town situated in the north-west of Germany is called and written about. On the western side, it is limited by the Ems river, and in the south by another river – the Leda. Because of its convenient geographical location, and primarily plenty of water ways, the town has developed extensive water communication, road communication, and even an airport in Papenburg. That convenient location makes Leer famous for shipyard industry, a sea and inland port, fishing industry, trade, crafts, and tourism generating more and more income. At the moment, the number of residents reaches 35 thousand – most of them actively participate in a number of cultural and entertaining events, thanks to which the town is a cultural center of the region. Based on the joint statement on "Friendly Relations Between the Towns" dated 27 June 1992, the agreement for partnership and cooperation was signed in Elbląg on 23 June 2001, and its objective is to exchange of information and cooperation in different fields, experience of communal governments, cooperation in economy, environment protection, education, culture, and sports.
http://www.leer.de

             LIEPAJA - Latvia

Lipawa, Liepaja, until 1917 Libawa, Lijepaja, a town in western Latvia, on the Baltic Sea. 114 thousand residents (1992). History: mentioned in 1253 as a fishing village, 1263 as a fortress of the Inflant Order of the Sword Knights. Municipal rights in 1625. In 1795 together with the duchy of Courland and Semigalia incorporated in Russia. It developed economically thanks to the railway connection with Romni (1877). 1918-1940 within the territory of Latvia. 1940 – 1990 in the Latvian SSR, from 1990 in the independent Latvia. Plants of machinery, textile, leather, shoemaking, and wood industries. A trading and fishing port. A climatic and balneology health resort. A communication node. A higher pedagogical school. Monuments: a baroque Lutheran church (18th century), houses in the port coast (17th – 18th century). The agreement for cooperation between the towns was signed in 1991. The cooperation provides for contacts between residents of both towns, cooperation of cultural, scientific, educational, and sports institutions, as well as companies, social and local government organizations.
http://www.liepaja.lv

            NAVAHRUDAK - Belarus

Navahrudak, a town in the western part of Belarus, on the Belarussian Upland, in the Hrodna district, 50 km north-west of Baranovichy. Approximately 30 thousand residents. In the 16th century the capital of the independent Ruthenian Duchy. In the 18th century incorporated in Latvia. The place of baptism and coronation of Mendog (1251). From 1507, the capital of a province; from 1581, the seat of the Tribunal of the Great Lithuanian Duchy. In 1795 incorporated in Russia. The place of baptism and childhood of A. Mickiewicz. In the interwar period within the borders of Poland, having the role of a provincial capital. In 1939 seized by the USSR, from 1991 in the territory of independent Belarus. Food and consumer goods (clothing) industries. A. Mickiewicz Museum (built in 1988 in the location of the Mickiewicz family mansion). The agreement for cooperation between both towns was concluded in 1995. The cooperation applies to contacts with respect to economy, culture, education, healthcare, environment protection, sports, and tourism.

            RONNEBY - Sweden

A town in the Blekinge province, the region called the "green garden of Sweden", an industrial and administrative center. One of the ten European towns being information technology leaders. Ronneby, on the river Ronnebyan, 30 thousand residents. Founded in approx. 1230. Municipal rights until 1679, and then again from 1879. Destroyed a number of times during the wars of Sweden and Denmark. In 1564, soldiers of king Eric XIV murdered about 2000 town residents who looked for shelter in the local church. In the 17th century, after founding Karlskrona, the meaning of the town as a trading center decreased. The agreement for friendship between the towns was signed on 16 May 1991. Both parties declared readiness to cooperate in the fields of student and youth exchange, information exchange, business contacts between enterprises, exchange of experience on public utilities and cooperation in the field of environment protection.
http://www.ronneby.se

           TERNOPIL - Ukraine

Ternopil, a district city in western Ukraine, on the Podolian Upland, on the Seret river (a side stream of the Dniester). 230 thousand residents. A Ruthenian village in the territory of the Halich and Vladimir Duchy, incorporated in Poland in the second half of the 14th century. Destroyed in the 14th century by the Mongolian and Tartar invasion. In its place, a town was founded by hetman J. Tarnowski who received the foundation privilege in 1540 from king Zygmunt I the Old. In the interwar period in the reborn Poland, from 1921 a province capital. In 1945 incorporated in the Ukrainian SSR. From 1991 in the territory of independent Ukraine. A large industrial center. A railway and road node. An airport. Monuments: an Orthodox church (16th century), a church and convent of the Dominican Friars (18th century). The castle of the Tarnowskis and Potockis (middle of the 16th century, 18th century, thoroughly rebuilt in the 19th century). The agreement for partnership of both cities was signed in 1992. The cooperation between Elbląg and Ternopil takes place via exchange of experience in the field of public utilities, economic and cultural cooperation.
http://www.ternopil.ua

           COUNTY OF WEST WILTSHIRE – United Kingdom

West Wiltshire is situated in the south-east of England, 10 miles east of Bath and 90 miles west of London. It occupies an area of 200 square miles, and is inhabited by 118 thousand people. The exceptional region is full of extremely beautiful channels with respect to qualities of nature, attractive from the tourism and recreation points of view. Both small, romantic villages, and five historically fair towns may be visited here. On 31 March 2000, the partnership agreement was signed in Trowbridge with the County of West Wiltshire and its five towns: Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster, and Westbury. The cooperation is about exchange of information in the field of local governments, public services organizations, supporting economical and business contacts between enterprises and business organizations, cooperation between organizations and individuals from Elbląg and West Wiltshire in the field of culture, sports, and tourism.
http://www.west-wiltshire-dc.gov.uk

        TAINAN - China (Taiwan)

Tainan, inhabited by 740,000 people is the oldest town in the island of Taiwan. It is situated on the Chianan plain, on the western bank of the island. Its nature for ages was shaped by the mixture of oriental and western influences. One third of all the Taiwan first class monuments are located in Tainan. Tainan is also a place of modern industry. A park grouping high-tech enterprises and integrating them with green, ecological areas of the park was established on over 700 hectares. The University of Cheng Kung operates in the city. The partnership agreement between Tainan and Elbląg was signed on 29 April 2004. The cooperation provides for exchange of experience and information with respect to the functioning of local government administration, public utilities management, science, trade, sports, tourism, and education.

              Nowy Sącz - Poland

Nowy Sącz is located in south-east part of Małopolskie Voivodship, 30 km from Polish-Slovakian border. The area of the town is 60 sq. km. The town has a population of 85 thousand.
Nowy Sącz was founded by Venclaus II on 8 November 1292. It became a major administrative and trade centre.
Nowadays ca. 8000 business entities are registered in Nowy Sącz. Some of them are household names in the industries they perform in: food processing (ice cream, poultry products), IT, furniture production, shipping, construction.
The town has been a very fast-developing academic centre. Apart from the renowned Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University, there are State School of Higher Education, Sądecka School of Higher Education and 4 subsidiaries of schools from Kraków.
Nowy Sącz is – due to its attractive geographical location – one of the most important tourist centres of Małopolskie Voivodship. It is also a major cultural centre.
The most interesting historic monuments include: art nouveau town planning of the market (19th / 20th century), St. Margaret gothic church (14th / 15th century), gothic Canon House (15th / 16th century), Holy Ghost church (beginning of 15th century), former Norbertan Monastery founded by Vladislaus Jagiello (today Dominican Monastery). There are also the remnants of the Medieval fortifications there.
http://www.nowysacz.pl