The Policy & Resources policy letter comes a year after a letter of intent was signed between P&R member Jonathan Le Tocq and Biberach Mayor Norbert Zeidler.
Biberach’s mayor is now set to visit Guernsey for the Liberation Day 80th anniversary commemorations and it is hoped the Framework of Friendship will be signed during that visit, if approved by the Assembly.
Guernsey has long-standing ties with Biberach an der Riß in southern Germany. The relationship began when British citizens not born in the Channel Islands were deported by German authorities during the Occupation.
About 1,000 British citizens and their families ended up in Camp Lindele in Biberach, a civilian internment camp.
The modern relationship was developed in 1997 through reconciliatory moves from Biberach.
The new move is intended to formalise the long-standing relationship.
However, it is not a twinning arrangement, which would be between towns or cities. A framework of friendship arrangement between Guernsey and Biberach has the purpose of strengthening cultural, social and economic ties between the two parties, while formally recognising their shared history and reconciliation.
The framework does not go into specific detail about how its aims will be achieved, but does present some general ideas, such as encouraging meetings and exchanges of historical and cultural knowledge among educational institutions.
It also suggests that educational initiatives be facilitated to teach residents about the shared history of the town and the island.
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