Saarland's legislative body, the Landtag, joins the Francophonie Association as its first German member.
Saarland State Parliament Joins the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie
Saarland, a German federal state, has joined the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie (APF) as a new member, marking an expansion of the organization's efforts into Europe. The APF, founded in 1967, is an international body that promotes the French language, parliamentary diplomacy, democracy, and human rights across countries where French is an official, working, or cultural language [1].
The APF's plenary session in the Assemblée Nationale in Paris approved the Saarland State Parliament's membership, which will take effect on July 12-13, 2025. This move was welcomed by more than 500 delegates from the global Francophonie community [1].
Heike Winzent, President of the Saarland State Parliament, described the admission as "a great honor and a significant step for the Saarland." She emphasized that the APF membership opens up new avenues for parliamentary exchange and creates opportunities for parliamentary diplomacy [1].
Dagmar Heib, First Vice-President of the Saarland State Parliament, attended the session in Paris and emphasized the recognition of the Saarland's efforts for Francophonie by the APF as a great honor. She also thanked the APF delegates for their trust [1].
The Saarland State Parliament's accession to the APF is seen as a natural progression due to the deep-rooted French language and culture in Saarland life. The state capital Saarbrücken has recently joined the Association internationale des maires francophones (AIMF), further solidifying the region's commitment to Francophonie [1].
The Saarland State Parliament is now represented in all major Francophonie institutions, including the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and the AIMF. The University of Applied Sciences (HTW) and the University of the Saarland are members of the AUF, demonstrating the region's commitment to academic exchange [1].
The APF organizes international seminars and conferences for the exchange of experiences, providing opportunities for Saarland to share and learn from other Francophone regions. The Saarland State Parliament had already unanimously approved its application for APF membership on December 4, 2024 [1].
The APF adopts policies on politics, economics, culture, and social issues, and also advises the Ministerial Conference and the Standing Committee of Francophonie. By joining the APF, Saarland strengthens its voice in shaping these policies and fostering cooperation among Francophone parliamentarians [1].
This membership may increase collaboration opportunities between Saarland and other Francophone parliaments and strengthen parliamentary diplomacy within the Francophone community. Dagmar Heib emphasized that the Saarland State Parliament is contributing as a member of the global Francophonie community [1].
Anne Lambelin, Regional Delegate for Europe and Belgian Senator, visited the Saarland with Luxembourgish MP Mars di Bartolomeo to observe the French language and culture. Their visit underscores the importance of cultural exchange and mutual understanding in the Francophonie community [1].
In summary, the APF is significant as a unifying parliamentary body that elevates French language and culture internationally and facilitates democratic dialogue. The Saarland State Parliament’s accession in 2025 marks an expansion of these efforts into a new German federal state, potentially broadening the APF’s European influence and fostering new interparliamentary connections within the Francophone world.
The Saarland State Parliament's membership in the APF signifies their active participation in shaping policies on politics, economics, culture, and social issues within the Francophone community. This move is expected to increase collaboration opportunities between Saarland and other Francophone parliaments and strengthen parliamentary diplomacy.
The APF's expansion into Europe with the inclusion of Saarland State Parliament will broaden its international reach and facilitate democratic dialogue, particularly in promoting French language and culture.
