countdown is on until 50th general meeting

Final preparations are underway for the 50th Douzelage General Meeting, which will take place in Marsaskala, Malta, from 3–6 September.

More than 130 delegates from across Europe will gather in the Maltese partner town, which joined the Douzelage family as its 23rd member in 2009.

The theme of this year’s General Meeting is “Tackling Domestic Violence in the Local Community”, with the conference funded through the European Union’s CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) Programme. Speakers from the fields of law enforcement and victim support will share their expertise with delegates from the three strands of the General Meeting, including local government representatives, education delegates and young people.

The Douzelage sculpture in Marsaskala

This landmark meeting also marks the 35th anniversary of Douzelage, the unique European town twinning organisation founded in Granville, France, in May 1991 by twelve member towns. As the European Union has expanded, so too has Douzelage, which today brings together 27 partner towns from across Europe.

Douzelage President Shane Smyth (Bundoran, Ireland) is looking forward to welcoming delegates to the milestone event.

“While the subject of the conference is a very serious one, I know all of our members from across Europe will be looking forward to our annual gathering, this year in beautiful Malta. It will be especially meaningful as we celebrate 35 years of Douzelage and reflect on the vision of our founders, who believed that building friendships across borders could help create a Europe where people understand one another through shared values, mutual respect and cultural exchange. That vision remains as relevant today as it was more than three decades ago.”

The 50th Douzelage General Meeting will take place in Marsaskala, Malta 

Mayor of Marsaskala, Mario Calleja, said the town was honoured to host the event.

“It is a great privilege for Marsaskala to host the 50th Douzelage General Meeting during the organisation’s 35th anniversary year. The theme of tackling domestic violence in the local community is one that affects every town and city across Europe, and we look forward to welcoming expert speakers who will help guide our discussions. Alongside the conference, we are excited to showcase Marsaskala, our culture and our renowned Maltese hospitality, and to give our guests the opportunity to experience all that our community has to offer. We look forward to welcoming everyone in September.”

More on the 50th General Meeting 

The Douzelage flag is handed over to Mayor of Marsaskala Mario Calleja following the conclusion of the 49th General Meeting in Preveza, Greece in 2025. 

In “Olympic Spirit”, the flag of Douzelage was ceremoniously handed over to Mayor of Marsaskala Mario Calleja following the conclusion of last year’s 49th General Meeting in Preveza, Greece. Read more here.