Filderstadt celebrates Christine Wagner: Award for bridge builder!

Filderstadt celebrates Christine Wagner: Award for bridge builder!

Christine Wagner, French-born and long-time chairwoman of the German-French Society, was honored on June 11, 2025 in Filderstadt for her outstanding commitment. She has lived in the city since 1978 and during her time in office she worked intensively for cultural exchange between Germany and France. The French Consul General in Stuttgart, Gaël de Maisonneuve, awarded her the Élysée Treaty Medal in a solemn ceremony, which honors people who are particularly committed to German-French cooperation.

Since the Franco-German Society was founded in 2003, Wagner has played a key role. Under her leadership, the association became an important player in the field of cultural exchange, not only promoting dialogue between the two countries, but also organizing meetings between the twin towns of La Souterraine and Dombasle-sur-Meurthe.

Appreciation and succession

Mayor Christoph Traub aptly described Christine Wagner as the city's “foreign minister” during the event, which underlines her important role for Filderstadt. With the celebration of the city's 50th anniversary comes additional activities and challenges for society, demonstrating the need for continued and dynamic leadership.

Although Christine Wagner has given up her position on the board of the German-French Society, she remains active as deputy chairwoman. The new chairman, Stéphane Lacalmette from Harthausen, will lead the further development of the club, focusing on rejuvenation and continuity in leadership.

The Elysée Treaty Medal awarded to Wagner commemorates the historic treaty between Germany and France signed in Paris on January 22, 1963. This treaty forms the basis for close cooperation between the two countries in the areas of foreign service, defense as well as education and youth, as the French embassy in Germany explains in detail.

Over the past decades, the foreign ministers of both countries have maintained a deep-rooted partnership, also important in the cultural and social spheres, through regular meetings and consultations, as established in the Élysée Treaty. Christine Wagner has contributed to the consolidation of these fundamental relationships through her many years of work in society and thus represents an important part of this historical connection.