http://www.sm-cote-opale.fr/Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale was created at the initiative of three French municipalities: Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne in order to develop tourism, form a network of cities and create a counterbalance to regional/state authorities (lobby of municipalities). Among the most important tasks of SMCO there are: counteracting internal competition between member-cities of SMCO, solving problems jointly, mutual promotion of partners as well as initiating joint projects in different fields, including undertakings co-financed by EU funds. It is both municipalities, unions of municipalities and chambers of commerce and industry that are members of Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale. The membership in SMCO is voluntary and is based on activities carried out in 8 working groups on: 1) economy, 2) commerce and passenger transport, 3) education, 4) IT, 5) water and coastline, 6) health, 7) sport, 8) culture. Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale associates municipalities located in the North of France in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The members of SMCO are among others: Dunkirk - the third largest commercial port of France having also ferry connections with Dover; Boulogne - the most important French fishery port is at the same time a seaside resort and a tourist centre with an old town and a sea aquarium (Nausicaa) worth visiting; Calais - the most important passenger port of France and one of major passenger ports of Europe, is connected with Great Britain by Eurotunnel and has also ferry connections with this country. Calais prides itself on its historical monuments: 15th century fortress and 14th -15th century gothic Saint Mary church. The cities belonging to Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale are not only engaged in economic activity but also educational one. On the territory of SMCO there is an intercommunal University of Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale (Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk, Saint-Omer) with the main seat in Dunkirk. This is a state university where students may obtain Master's degree (MA or MSc) in economics, management, law, humanities and social science, biology, chemistry, physics as well as computer science. On 25th November 2004 there was signed a cooperation agreement between SMCO and Gdynia. This agreement concerns cooperation in the field of economic development, promotion of maritime economy and development of ports, intercommunal cooperation, environmental protection, tourism, culture, education and sport. The effects of the cooperation:Initiation of contacts between Dunkirk and Gdynia during the Union of the Baltic Cities General Conference in Rostock - October 2001 Study visit of the Tri-city representatives to Côte d'Opale took place. In the course of this visit there were organised meetings with the authorities of Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne, representatives of the ports of these three cities, chambers of commerce and industry, development agencies as well as NGOs from the region of Côte d'Opale - March 2002 Return visit of the French delegation to the Tri-city. During the stay of the delegation there were held meetings with representatives of local authorities, companies, schools, institutions as well as NGOs - November 2002 Study visit to Gdynia of two artists from Dunkirk - April 2003 Study visit to Gdynia ot the Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale (SMCO) delegation consisting of representatives of Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk. During the stay a series of meetings with various institutions and firms from Gdynia took place. On 25.11.2004 an agreement on cooperation between Gdynia and SMCO was signed - November 2004 visit to Gdynia of 25 students from the French High School in Calais at the invitation of students from Gdynia High School No. 2 - February 2005 participation of the official SMCO delegation in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of granting Gdynia city rights - February 2006participation of young sportsmen from the SMCO in the 14th Twin Cities Sporting Competition in Gdynia - May 2006visit to Gdynia of students and teachers from the Leonardo da Vinci High School in Calais within the school exchange with the High School No. 14 in Gdynia - February 2007participation of Gdynia representative in the "Sea Days" within the Polish Year in the region Pas-de-Calais (Boulogne-sur-Mer) - July 2007participation of young sportsmen from the SMCO in the 16th Twin Cities Sporting Competition in Gdynia - May 2008participation of SMCO representatives in the opening of Gdynia Twin Cities Information Point in the Academic Reading Room of the City Library - May 2008visit to Gdynia of the musician and performer from Dunkirk in connection with his work on the project "From one harbour to the other" consisting in recording the specific sounds of work in different European port - September 2011 visit of Gdynia representative to Dunquirk in connection with the Comenius project – November 2013visit of Dunkirk representatives concerning the Sport Evolution Project (Gdynia Sports Centre) - October 2014visit of Dunkirk City Hall delegation concerning the summing-up of the Sport Evolution project – May 2015 Opublikowano: 14.11.2006 00:00 Autor: Małgorzata Aleksiak