How come all our towns and cities are twinned with european towns?

Question

Do we get any special privileges if we visited these towns?

Answer 1

It was done after the war to try to bridge the divide between England and Germany. Have a look, most twins are German towns and cities (one answer already Dortmund and Leeds, stoke-on-Trent and Erlangen in Bavaria)

Towns that were twinned were of the similar size and industry (apparently). It took off to include other countries including other European countries and in some cases, the USA.

It is just that recently local councillors have taken to visits to get a bit of a free trip.

Answer 2

The idea is to develop friendship and understanding between the ordinary folk of the two countries.
The twinning starts with a visit by coach./air/car of a number of people from the one town to the twinned town.
The visitors are if possible taken into the locals houses for the duration of their stay which is usually less than 3 nights. Hopefully at this time friendships are made and return trips are arranged. You eat local food and have a very good time.There is very little scope for profit and trade but plenty of scope for getting to know our foreign neighbours and their country.
The twinning is in Europe as it is easy to get to but there is no reason why the process cannot be repeated in other countries.

Answer 3

As one of your other answers mentioned it originated at the end of the war and many of the towns are in France so I thought it was something to do with rebuilding after wartime damage. Only councillors on organised visits have any privileges.

Answer 4

It's so councillors from the towns involved can go on jollies to eachother's countries once a year in the name of international friendship and European community...and at the taxpayer's expense.

Answer 5

I think its a cultural exchange scheme where the local dignitaries shake hands a put a few schemes together involving trade and exchange school trips etc.

But I could be wrong and it might be much more sinister like cloning the people to reproduce an exact copy of the town somewhere else................lol

Answer 6

Because councillors love visiting these places at the expense of local taxpayers but would struggle to justify the cost of long-haul flights.

Answer 7

I think it's all down to the ordnance survey companys. Not sure you will get anything more than anybody else who were to visit these places

Answer 8

because the ppl who came to this country named towns after places they were familiar with.

Answer 9

So the greedy councillers can get free trips there at our expense

Answer 10

It is done to show our close links to Europe, even though we are not part of the continent. It shows alliance.