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July 28, 2020 "Italian-German collaboration is central to a Europe that is strong, supportive and future-oriented". The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, write it in a joint letter to the mayors of the twin Italian and German municipalities."Courageous and disciplined Italians"
"In recent months, Italy has suffered particularly from the pandemic, the Italians have respected the restrictions with courage and discipline. The dramatic images from Italy have traveled around the world. They have also deeply moved the people in Germany. " So the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the President of the Republic, Mattarella. The intent - he explains - is to enhance the deep links existing at the level of territories, and to thank the commitment and closeness shown during the most acute phase of the Covid-19 emergency.
"We wish to thank you today, personally - the two presidents write - for the work of mutual understanding and meeting carried out for decades in favor of the respective communities in Italy and Germany and above all for the impressive commitment made for your towns and citizens during the pandemic. Every day you make a decisive contribution against a virus that knows no borders. The cities and municipalities in Italy and Germany have reorganized the municipal work in a few days and developed further solutions to help people during the crisis ".
"Municipalities throughout Italy have, for example, launched solidarity projects to support above all the towns and older citizens, from transport to the doctor to food supplies. Many German cities - underline Mattarella and Steinmeier - have offered the possibility of therapy for Italian patients with Covid-19 disease; 44 seriously ill patients from Lombardy were transported to hospitals throughout the federal territory with a one-of-a-kind airlift. A few days ago, the last patients recovered returned home " .
"Fundamental
cohesion " "At this moment cohesion is more fundamental than ever. Your cities and municipalities are hit very hard by the economic and social consequences of the crisis and it will be so much longer. The pandemic has shown that we can find convincing answers to these dramatic repercussions only if we remain united ".
"Therefore we would like to encourage you personally to take advantage of the experiences made during the pandemic - continue the two presidents - and further strengthen the exchange in the twinning network between German and Italian cities for the themes that unite the Municipalities in Italy and Germany, for example through digital conferences at regular intervals. Perhaps you can also encourage neighboring municipalities or others with whom you are in close contact to build new municipal partnerships. "" For our part - write Mattarella and Steinmeier - we will address the governments of our two countries with the request for to verify what can be done to promote municipal cooperation between Germany and Italy ".