13/10/2011

As shown by experience, town twinning has given birth to different city networks all around the world.

At the root of this project, the twinning agreement between Niort (France) and Gijon (Spain); cities that are fostering their collaboration through two city networks: AIRE 198 and Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities (CAAC). City networks, specially those created through twinning links, are the natural arena of exchange of experience and mutual learning. They are in charge of dissemination of good practices not only their own but also those of their members. City networks have the skills and the resources to advise and follow cities’ initiatives. Then, the impact and importance of city networks to make the most of town twinning is fundamental. Thus, TONETA would like to enhance and improve city networking by enhancing and promoting the different networks that work in the Atlantic Area, such as AIRE 198, CAAC, UDITE, CECICN, MOT… giving a transnational dimension to twinning cooperation. This analysis will focus not only on cooperation itself but in concrete topics such as sustainable development, social cohesion or European citizenship. Thus, this initiative builds in existing city networks and is based in the following principles: 1) Long-lasting networking, through qualitative and quantitative tools in coherence with sustainable urban development and enhancing Atlantic and thus EU identity. 2) Exchanging experiences in key topics of sustainable urban development, by collecting good practices. Exchange shall include different strands of civil society. 3) Non-formal and informal learning as a tool for exchange ; an exchange that should bring out mutual understanding and tolerance and empower citizens. 4) Modelling of the urban Atlantic exchange system. Promote EU values through a valid model of citizens and cities’ exchange on the Atlantic Area. TONETA considers 3 levels: a) Individual b) Community c) Corporate.

Organisation: Gijon City Council
Firstname: Paz
Lastname: Fernández Felgueroso
Address: Plaza Mayor , 1, 33201, Gijon
Country: ES
E-mail:alcaldia@gijon.es
Phone: 0034985181153
URL:http://www.gijon.es
External Reference: 516114-EFC-1-2011-1-ES-EFC-NTT
Countries: GB | PT | FR

Partners
Partner: City Council of Cardiff Country: GB	Partner: Associaçao Municipios do Vale do Ave Country: PT
Partner: Amenagement du territoire Initiatives locales et régionales Country: FR

Starting Date: 1 June 2011
Ending Date: 31 May 2013