On Monday*, 11 May at 5 p.m., Lord Mayor Sven Schulze invites all citizens to get into conversation with European guests and listen to each other. The City of Chemnitz's European reception with panel discussions at the Hartmannfabrik, Fabrikstraße 11, will be dedicated to the accession processes of Montenegro and Latvia to the European Union and the role of the Capitals of Culture in this process.
The event aims to bring together people from politics, culture and society in Chemnitz to discuss the cohesion and enlargement of the EU. Cultural word and cultural contributions from the future European Capitals of Culture Liepaja (Latvia, 2027) and Nikšić (Montenegro, 2030) will also provide inspiring insights during the evening and bring the diversity of Europe to life.
Admission is free, registration is required by 10 May at www.chemnitz.de/europaempfang.
Representatives of the media are also invited.
The event, which is part of the Europe Weeks programme, will focus on two panel discussions entitled "Europe is growing together! Enlargement, cohesion, future". These will deal with the questions of what EU membership or EU accession means for the respective countries - politically, economically and socially - and what concrete effects European enlargement has on the cities. ARD presenter Susann Reichenbach, also known from the MDR-Thüringen Journal, will moderate the programme.
With the Latvian ambassador, Alda Vanaga (Latvia), a representative of the Montenegrin embassy and Matthias Ecke, Member of the European Parliament, on the podium, the first part of the evening will focus on the path of West and East Germany (accession in 1951/1990), Latvia (accession in 2004) and Montenegro (accession expected in 2028) to the European Union.
The second part will focus on the municipal level. Representatives from the Capitals of Culture Nikšić, Liepāja and Chemnitz will discuss how Europe is reflected in people's everyday lives - and what role culture plays in this. Specifically, the question is how municipalities themselves and their citizens can become part of an international network through the title of European Capital of Culture and how European topics become visible locally.
From their regional perspective, the actors explain how the programmes of the Capitals of Culture can emerge in areas of tension between historical memory, local identity and the European idea, similar to diamonds under pressure.
The example of the European Capitals of Culture shows how cities grow through international cooperation, new networks emerge and European themes become visible on the ground. Culture is seen as a unifying force that enables exchange and at the same time preserves the diversity of the regions.
It also discusses how such processes can strengthen the sense of belonging - even in areas of tension between historical memory, local identity and the European idea. Experience shows: Europe is not only created in political institutions, but above all where people work together, create and enter into dialogue.
Citizens are cordially invited to contribute their views and experiences to the discussions.
Both discussion rounds make it clear that a strong Europe needs participation - at both political and local level. It grows where people talk to each other, learn from each other and shape the future together.
The event is being organised by the City of Chemnitz in cooperation with the Chemnitz Project Office of the Saxon State Agency for Civic Education and the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH. The discussion event is supported by the Chair of European Integration with a focus on European Administration at Chemnitz University of Technology.
This year's Europe reception follows on from last year's panel discussion. Under the title "Too much, too little, too foreign - what kind of EU do we want?", former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and other guests discussed what Chemnitz residents want from the EU, what it really does and why on 7 May 2025 in the Hartmannfabrik.
All other events during Europe Week can be found at www.chemnitz.de/europawoche.
*changedon 05.05.2026
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