Europe & International

Aachen has a great European heritage as Charlemagne's imperial palace, a German coronation city and the site of European peace treaties. Aachen is also one of the few cities that lies directly on the border with two of its neighbors - more than half of the city's 85-kilometer border runs along Belgium and the Netherlands. European work is therefore not an optional extra in Aachen, but a duty. The areas of activity range from advice at the Europe Direct Center and the Charlemagne border region network to cooperation at Euregional and European level.

events

Charlemagne Prize

The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is considered one of the most important European prizes. It has been awarded since 1950 to individuals and institutions who have rendered outstanding services to the unification of Europe. The prize is awarded every year on Ascension Day as part of a festive ceremony in the Coronation Hall in Aachen City Hall.

About the Charlemagne Prize

Emperor Charles on the Charles Fountain in front of the town hall with the European flag in the background. — City of Aachen / Andreas Herrmann

Europe Direct

"Europe direct" makes Europe and the EU more transparent, promotes European awareness and encourages participation in shaping Europe. "Europe direct" Aachen is part of a Europe-wide information network of the European Commission and is co-financed by the Commission. There are currently 50 such information centers in Germany.

Charlemagne border region

Living, working and moving without borders. The Charlemagne working group
Grenzregion is committed to the (further) development of a joint economic area between the city and the StädteRegion Aachen, the German-speaking Community of Belgium, the Parkstad Limburg and the municipalities of Heerlen and Vaals.

Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Five regions, three countries and just as many languages - that is the cross-border Euregio Meuse-Rhine. Alongside the Dutch cities of Maastricht and Heerlen and the Belgian cities of Liège and Hasselt, Aachen is one of the main centers of this working community. The beneficiaries of this cooperation are the people who live in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine area and who, thanks to the cross-border cooperation of the five partner regions, can increasingly assert their claims to equal living conditions in the new Europe of the regions.

Border info point

The EUREGIO Border Info Point offers tailor-made advice on the topics of working, running a business, living and studying in the neighboring country. Advice is provided individually, independently, objectively and free of charge, taking regional particularities into account. The core of the service is personal advice for employees, employers, job seekers, trainees, students and pensioners.

Aerial view of Table Mountain — Alexcpt_Photography, © iStock.com / Alexcpt

Aachen's city partnerships span a network around the globe. From Cape Town to Reims to Arlington, the city maintains friendly exchanges with all its twin cities.

The floor plans of Europe are placed together on a table. — © City of Aachen / yella park

European cooperation

Aachen is firmly anchored in the Dutch-Belgian-German border triangle. European togetherness is not only expressed in the way we live, but also in the organized cooperation in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine: in environmental and climate protection, in sport, culture, science and business.

A golden sphere, each eighth is surrounded by a glowing blue line. A bright blue cylinder stands out at the top center. — City of Aachen / Peter Hinschläger

Living Europe

In Aachen, Europe is much more than a matter of politics. Living, working, studying and shopping in three countries is part of Aachen's everyday life. The European capital of Brussels is practically on the doorstep, the people of Aachen are separated from Luxembourg by just a small stretch of the Eifel and Ardennes; Paris is less than three hours away on the Eurostar.

Europe & International

events

Charlemagne Prize

Europe Direct

Charlemagne border region

Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Border info point

Town twinning

Aachen & Europe

European cooperation

Living Europe

Further topics

Further information

Further services

Frequently searched for