International cooperation
International cooperationInternational relations
The international cooperation of Utena District Municipality with foreign partner cities is part of the city’s openness, growth and international dialogue. In order to promote cultural exchange, economic cooperation, educational and youth projects and the sharing of good practices in various areas of local government, we maintain relations with cities in various countries.
Utena District Municipality cooperates with the cities of Lidköping (Sweden), Preiliai, Rėzekne (Latvia), Třeboň (Czech Republic), Chełm (Poland), Pontinia (Italy), Kovel (Ukraine), Beit Sahour (Palestine), Gori (Georgia).vimas
On 10 October 1997, a cooperation agreement was signed and approved by the Utena District Council on 26 November 1997 between the city of Utena in the Republic of Lithuania and the city of Trebon in the Czech Republic. The cities agreed to cooperate in the fields of culture, education, tourism and sports.
On 7 July 1997, the Utena District Council approved the cooperation agreement concluded on 12 June 1997 between the Swedish Lidköping Municipality and the Utena District Municipality. The municipalities decided to exchange knowledge and experience in the following areas: care for the elderly, development of local democracy, development of free enterprise, district heating, waste collection and wastewater system. On 18 April 2008, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Lidköping Municipality (Kingdom of Sweden) and the Utena District Municipality for another five years, which provides for the following areas of focus: care for the elderly and people with disabilities, education, social security, culture, sports, environmental protection, tourism, small business and trade, and cooperation in projects financed by the European Union.
On December 10, 1997, a cooperation agreement was concluded with the Preiliai District Municipality of Latvia and approved by the Utena District Council on December 23, 1997. The Utena and Preiliai District Municipalities agreed to exchange knowledge and experience in the areas of health care and social welfare, development of democracy, development of free business, development of industry, trade, agriculture, transport and communications, planning, culture, science, environmental protection, tourism and sports, district heating, waste collection and wastewater system improvement, etc.
On September 3, 2016, Utena District Municipality signed a cooperation agreement with the city of Rėzekne (Latvia). On September 3, 2016, on the occasion of the 755th anniversary of the city of Utena, Utena District Municipality and Rezekne City Municipality (Republic of Latvia) signed a cooperation agreement, in which they committed to cooperate at the local government level and pay special attention to economic cooperation, development of investment projects, cooperation in the areas of small and medium-sized businesses, education, culture and sports, and to pay special attention to the partnership of youth organizations, environmental protection and tourism, health and social security. The Utena District Municipality Council approved the cooperation agreement with the city of Rezekne by decision No. TS-234 of August 25, 2016.
On March 10, 1998, the Utena District Council approved the cooperation agreement concluded on February 10, 1998 between the Utena District Municipality and the Pontinia Municipality in Italy. The twin cities agreed to exchange knowledge and experience in the following areas: development of local democracy, development of free business, and health care. It was also agreed to create contacts between the residents of Pontinia and Utena, and to provide the residents (citizens) of the cities with the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience in different areas.
On May 6, 1998, the Utena District Council approved the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Utena of the Republic of Lithuania and the City of Chelm of the Republic of Poland, concluded on April 2, 1998. The municipalities agreed to constantly exchange experience and seek common solutions in the following areas: environmental protection, health protection and social care, education and upbringing, culture, sports, tourism. In order to implement the joint agreements in accordance with the current laws of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland, the parties agreed to support various forms of cooperation between enterprise collectives, associations, foundations, and institutions. It was also decided to exchange local municipal institutions, enterprises, educational, cultural and sports institutions, and during the holidays, youth and schoolchild delegations, to promote cultural exchange by exchanging performances of art collectives and professional performers, tourist groups, exhibitions, museum expositions, to organize fairs, etc.
On September 30, 2004, the Utena District Municipality Council, by decision No. T-257, approved the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Utena District Municipality and the city of Kovel, Republic of Ukraine. This agreement was signed in Kovel on May 20, 2005. It was decided to cooperate in economic activity, trade, business, ecology, municipal services, transport, education, culture, sports, tourism, health care and other areas.
On September 5, 2015, Utena District Municipality signed a cooperation agreement with the Municipality of Beit Sahour (Palestine). The parties committed to cooperate at the local government level and to pay special attention to cooperation in the areas of education and youth cooperation, culture, historical and religious heritage, sports, social security, environmental protection, tourism, economic cooperation, trade, small business and crafts, and relations between municipal-level institutions.
On May 25, 2019, Utena District Municipality signed a friendship and mutual cooperation agreement with the city of Gori (Georgia). Gori is the tenth partner city with which Utena has signed a cooperation agreement.
The agreement was signed by Alvydas Katinas, Mayor of Utena District Municipality, and Konstantine Tavzarashvili, Mayor of Gori Municipality. The agreement emphasizes that Utena and Gori recognize the importance of developing friendly cooperation in order to improve the economy and culture, and will work together in good faith, by mutual agreement and respect, aiming to create friendly relations. By signing the agreement, the parties agreed to seek cooperation in the areas of investment, economy, social security, public health, education, culture and sports, tourism and recreation.
