Debrecen4U September 21, 2026

Debrecen and Târgu Mureș Sign Twinning Agreement

László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, and Zoltán Soós, Mayor of Târgu Mureș, signed a twinning agreement between the two cities in Târgu Mureș on 19 September 2026.

“For centuries, a defining element of Debrecen’s mission has been its support for Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin, and particularly those in Transylvania. We want to preserve and carry forward this intellectual and cultural heritage. Following Oradea, we are now strengthening our ties in Szeklerland as well. Târgu Mureș is an excellent partner in this endeavour. When we sign the twinning agreement between Debrecen and Târgu Mureș today, we are not actually beginning a new story. We are raising a long-standing, deep cultural, intellectual and human relationship to the level of official cooperation. This agreement is about both our shared past and our shared future. It is about our cities becoming partners in culture, education, science, tourism and the economy,” said László Papp.

Based on the principles of bilateral cooperation, trust, equality and mutual benefit, the two cities will cooperate in the fields of local government activities, the economy, education and culture, sport, tourism, civil protection, the maintenance of public order and public safety, environmental protection, agriculture and urban development, as well as – as set out in a supplementary document – areas including urban planning and vocational education and training.

“I would like us, a few years from now, to remember not only that we signed a document, but also everything that came about as a result. We would like to cooperate in culture, education, tourism, the economy and sport, as well as in the operation of our cities. Every such relationship is a new bridge, and bridges only have meaning if we actually use them,” said Zoltán Soós, Mayor of Târgu Mureș, reaffirming the commitment.

Within the scope of their respective responsibilities, the parties will support the exchange of experience and best practices between delegations of professionals working in the fields of culture, the economy, public administration, tourism, social assistance and care, healthcare, education and environmental protection. They will actively promote the organisation of exchanges of experience between institutions coordinated by the signatories, as well as the presentation of the activities carried out by these institutions for the benefit of the local communities they represent.

They will also contribute to developing cooperation between organisations and institutions operating within their respective administrative boundaries in the fields of science, culture, healthcare, education, social care and assistance, sport, tourism, environmental protection, public utilities, property management and the maintenance of public spaces.

The twinning agreement was concluded for an indefinite period and entered into force on the day it was signed.

Most recently, just days ago, on 16 September 2026, Debrecen signed a twinning agreement with Kharkiv in Ukraine. Târgu Mureș is Debrecen’s 23rd twin city.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu