Wolfsburg Celebrates 70 Years of Italian Ties That Shaped Its Future
Wolfsburg's Mayor Thanks Italian Community for 70 Years of Connections
The occasion is the 70th anniversary of the German-Italian recruitment agreement. Especially in the VW city, the economy, politics, culture, and city life have benefited from these connections.
Wolfsburg has marked half a century of close connections with Italy through cultural, economic, and municipal partnerships. The city’s long-standing connections began with Italian guest workers arriving in the 1950s and has since grown into formal agreements with Pesaro-Urbino and Popoli Terme. A recent anniversary celebration highlighted the enduring connections between the two nations.
The relationship between Wolfsburg and Italy traces back to 1955, when Germany and Italy signed a labour recruitment agreement. Many Italians arrived as guest workers but later decided to stay, shaping the city’s development in areas like industry, politics, and culture. Over time, Wolfsburg established institutions to support its Italian residents, including the Integration Office and the Leonardo da Vinci School.
In 1975, Wolfsburg formalised its connections with Pesaro-Urbino, followed by a friendship agreement with Popoli Terme in 2012. The 50th anniversary of the Pesaro-Urbino connections was celebrated in 2025 with a special concert featuring Rossini’s opera. Luigi Cosentino, an Italian consul who served in Wolfsburg over the decades, played a key role in maintaining these connections.
Lord Mayor Dennis Weilmann acknowledged the contributions of the Italian community during the anniversary event. He emphasised how these connections strengthen municipal cooperation and reflect the values of a united Europe. The city also hosts an Italian Consular Agency, which assists Italian citizens and promotes Italian culture locally.
The anniversary celebrations underscored Wolfsburg’s deep-rooted connections with Italy, built on decades of shared history and collaboration. The city’s ongoing support for Italian residents and cultural exchanges ensures that this connections will remain strong. Both sides continue to benefit from economic, political, and social connections that have evolved since the 1950s.
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