The concept of Europe has shaped the identity and conscience of the inhabitants of the German-speaking Community to a considerable extent. People maintain numerous social, business and cultural contacts with neighbouring European regions; many communicate not only in their German mother tongue, but also in French and Dutch.
The German-speaking Community is integrated into cross-border and European structures.
- It concludes contracts with European partner regions (e.g. South Tyrol) or partner states (e.g. the Republic of Hungary);
- it ratifies European and international agreements affecting the Community's areas of competence (e.g. the European Constitution project);
- it is a member of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, the Greater Region, the European Committee of the Regions, the CALRE, the EU Parliament and the BeNeLux;
- it is politically represented in the EU.