How much Europe is there in Chemnitz? Mayor Sven Schulze and the EU Coordinator of the City of Chemnitz, Annabell Heimer, provided an overview of funded projects, lively partnerships and diverse programmes at a press conference today.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze: "Chemnitz can look back on an extraordinary year: as European Capital of Culture, we have impressively demonstrated how lively and diverse European cooperation can be on the ground. Last year alone, 176 projects were realised. And even beyond the European Capital of Culture year, Chemnitz remains part of the European cultural community as a member of the ECOC Family (European Capital of Culture). We have a clear self-image: we are the Capital of Culture forever."
Since 2014, the city of Chemnitz has realised a total of 413 EU-funded projects and events. European cooperation has a long tradition: Chemnitz has been actively involved in European work since 1995. Today, the city maintains official partnerships with twelve cities worldwide and is represented in eleven European networks.
The city's social commitment to European issues is also extensive: over the past eleven years, 39 European Action Weeks have been organised, focusing on topics such as sport, mobility, European education and democracy.
Chemnitz has also been honoured with the European Energy Award five times, receiving prize money totalling around 158,000 euros.
EU funding strengthens urban development
Europe is not only present in Chemnitz in terms of ideas, but also financially. Since 2014, the city has received around 60 million euros in EU funding. These funds come from various programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Just Transition Fund (JTF), Erasmus+ and other funding initiatives.
For example, a total of €33.2 million was provided by the EU for various districts between 2015 and 2025 as part of the ERDF funding programme. The EU is providing a further €5.5 million from the ESF funding programme for projects in the Mitte and Chemnitz-Süd districts. In addition, over €32 million will be made available from the Just Transition Fund between 2021 and 2027, primarily to support companies.
Programmes such as Erasmus+ (more than 414,000 euros since 2014) and other EU initiatives such as Horizon, Interreg and Creative Europe (around 21 million euros since 2010) also make a significant contribution to the city's European networking and development.
Europe Weeks in May: Chemnitz celebrates Europe
The whole of May in Chemnitz is dedicated to Europe. With the Europe Weeks, the city is organising a diverse programme together with numerous stakeholders from 1 to 31 May. Discussions, specialist lectures, cultural performances, music, film, quizzes and hands-on activities invite you to experience Europe with all your senses.
The Europe Weeks are aimed at people of all generations and emphasise Chemnitz as a cosmopolitan place in a vibrant European region.
Selected programme highlights:
Europe Garage
7 May 2026, 2 pm to 7 pm
Garage Campus, Zwickauer Straße 164
Open consultation hour on European topics, project presentations and
exchange opportunities.
Organiser: EUROPE DIRECT Chemnitz.
Admission free.
European Neighbourhood Festival in the Rosenhof
8 May 2026, 2 pm to 7 pm
Rosenhof 18 Encounters between European communities with music, hands-on activities and culinary offerings.
Organiser: City of Chemnitz
Free admission
European reception and panel discussion
11 May 2026, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hartmannfabrik, Fabrikstraße 11
Discussion on the future of Europe with international guests, followed by a reception.
Organiser: City of Chemnitz
Registration required at www.chemnitz.de/europaempfang
Admission free.
Evening event organised by the Bundesbank on the topic of the "digital euro"
20 May 2026, 6 pm to 9 pm
Deutsche Bundesbank - Chemnitz branch, Zschopauer Straße 49
Discussion on the "Digital Euro" project and the next stage in the development of central bank money.
Organiser: Deutsche Bundesbank
Admission free.
www.chemnitz.de/europa
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