At the awarding of the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur to Katja Meier (Member of the Saxon State Parliament) at the French Embassy in Germany on April 29, 2026, it became clear what role personal relationships and political commitment play in German-French cooperation.
Katja Meier has actively shaped this exchange over the years, including with a focus on projects that bring Europe together at the regional level. French Ambassador François Delattre expressly praised this commitment and emphasized the importance of such initiatives for a lived German-French friendship.
Europe needs a strong foundation, especially in times of geopolitical upheaval. - Katja Meier
This moment is also special for us because Katja Meier early on supported and politically accompanied the idea of a Grand Départ in Central Germany. Together with our board, Dr. Thomas Hofmann and Andreas Prokop, we were able to follow the award ceremony on site.
In her own words, it becomes clear what her core concern is: "Europe needs a strong foundation, especially in times of geopolitical upheaval. Cooperation between Germany, France, and Poland is not about symbolism, but about future viability. Sport can create exactly this closeness – visible, tangible, and unifying. A potential Grand Départ in 2029 would be more than just a sporting event in this context; it would be a symbol of a Europe that thinks ahead together."
Heartfelt congratulations on this award.
