Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons and the Aachen City Council experienced a sweet moment on the home stretch to Christmas: the Fairtrade Steering Group Aachen presented all newly elected council members and the Lord Mayor with a delicious festive greeting in the form of a Fairtrade Aachen chocolate shortly before the last council meeting of the year (yesterday, Wednesday, December 17). In this way, the steering group is promoting the consistent implementation of fair trade at municipal level, making it visible and tangible. A message that goes down well with Lord Mayor Ziemons: "For me, buying Fairtrade products is not only a sign of responsibility in action, but also an active contribution to global justice. With every fairly traded product, we strengthen humane working conditions, promote sustainable development and show that our city is acting consciously and with an eye to the future."

Aachen once again awarded Fairtrade Citystatus
In September 2025, Aachen was once again awarded Fairtrade City status. Fabiola Blum, member of the Fairtrade steering group for the city of Aachen: "We are proud that we continue to meet the criteria for a Fairtrade city in 2025 and that Fairtrade Deutschland e. V. has once again recognized us as a Fairtrade city." Aachen has been a Fairtrade city since 2011. The criteria for this are:

• Council decision to become a Fairtrade city (2011)
• Steering group with members from the fields of administration and politics, business and civil society
• Fairtrade products in local stores and restaurants
• Cooperation with civil society organizations (associations, educational institutions, religious communities)
• Media and public relations work on fair trade

There are over 900 Fairtrade cities across Germany. Aachen is proud to continue to be one of them: "The work in the Fairtrade steering group shows how successful it is when actors from civil society, trade, politics and administration work together," says Mona Pursey, "Eine Welt-Forum Aachen" and also a member of the Fairtrade steering group.

Fairtrade Santa Clauses at the Christmas market
However, the chocolate for the Aachen City Council is not the only pre-Christmas campaign: Fabiola Blum and Mona Pursey were once again out and about as Fairtrade angels at the Christmas market to give away fairtrade Santa Clauses. "Fairtrade gifts not only make the recipients happy, but also the people in the Global South who make the products. This is because they benefit from long-term trade relationships and fair wages. There are many great stores in Aachen where you can find Fairtrade gifts," explained Blum. And Mona Pursey from the One World Forum Aachen added: "From chocolate to handicrafts and textiles, there are lots of lovely gifts to buy in Aachen. The 'Fair City Map' reveals exactly where you can find what you are looking for. The city map focuses on owner-managed retail stores. In addition, many Fairtrade-certified products such as coffee, tea and chocolate can also be purchased in numerous supermarkets."

Jan Konwinski from the "Weltladen Betreiber Genossenschaft" and member of the Fairtrade steering group can only agree: "The Fairtrade Aachen chocolate from the Aachener Weltladen cleverly combines a global and local perspective. It is just one of many Fairtrade gift ideas for Christmas." So if you are still looking for fairtrade gifts and products at short notice, you can find the right stores on the Fairtrade city map: https://fairtrade-aachen.de/fairer-stadtplan/