Financial support

Every twinning activity must, of course, be funded. Often, your town or local authority will provide at least some financial support to its twinning activities, and it is good if this can be included in the town’s budget as a permanent support. However, this is unlikely to cover all of what is required. Many twinnings are also financed thanks to the actions of dedicated supporters, through the organisation of a wide range of local fund-raising events. For some types of partnership project work, there may be some funding available from national government programmes, or from foundations.

However, local authorities and twinning associations have the chance to lighten the financial burden, thanks in particular to the programme established by the European Commission in 1989, responding to the call from the European Parliament, to support twinning actions which help to bring Europe closer to citizens.