The members of Mittlere Oder e.V., the German supporting association of the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion, met on 11.12.2025 in Frankfurt City Hall for the ordinary general meeting. In addition to the 2024 annual financial statements, the work and budget plan for 2026 was also discussed and approved. Finally, the members also used the meeting to find out about the INTERREG VIA Brandenburg – Poland 2021–2027 cooperation program and the continuation of funding from the Small Projects Fund.
The most important item on the agenda was the regular election of the new board, which takes place every two years. The new board of the Mittlere Oder e.V. is now composed as follows:
- Chairman: Sascha Gehm | 1. Alderman, Oder-Spree district
- Vice-Chairman. Chairman: Jens-Marcel Ullrich | Alderman, City of Frankfurt (Oder)
- Treasurer: Robert Nitz | Mayor of Seelow
- Board member: Friedemann Hanke | 1. Alderman of the district of Märkisch-Oderland)
- Board member: Christoph Bruckhoff | Retired Superintendent.
- Board member: Janine Nuyken | Vice President, European University Viadrina
- Board member: Dirk Meyer | Amtsdirektor Amt Odervorland
The previous chairman Rainer Schinkel (alderman of the district of Märkisch-Oderland), who has chaired the association since 2018 and previously served on the board for many years, did not stand for re-election due to retirement.
"It has always been a great honor but also a pleasure for me to chair the Middle Oder e.V. over the past 7 years, thanks to the trust of our members. These have been exciting times, not free of events and challenges that have occasionally put cross-border cooperation in the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion to the test. But they have also been exciting times that have had a positive impact on German-Polish cooperation in our Euroregion in all areas of public life and, thanks to the tireless efforts of numerous stakeholders, have contributed to intensifying cross-border dialog in our Euroregion. Mutual cooperation has always been important to me over the years: cooperation with the members, with the board members, with the employees of the association's office. But above all with our Polish partners from the Polish association supporting our Euroregion, with whom we have worked together in a trusting and constructive manner to achieve our common goals and tasks, be it with the Polish Chairman Jacek Wójcicki, be it with my Polish colleagues on the Board, be it with the Polish Director Krzysztof Szydłak and his staff," explained Rainer Schinkel in his last words as Chairman.
"With Sascha Gehm, the association is gaining a very experienced, committed and competent chairman who is already connected to the association and the Euroregion and who will lead the association reliably and successfully; I am delighted that the chairmanship is passing to him. I sincerely wish Mr. Gehm and the association much success and good fortune, much strength and perseverance in continuing their cross-border commitment. I'm not saying 'farewell', I'm saying 'see you soon' – somewhere in the Euroregion." He added.
As the unanimously elected new chairman, Sascha Gehm thanked the members for the trust they had placed in him and expressed his confidence in the upcoming tasks and challenges of the association, which he took over from Rainer Schinkel in the very best of health: "I am looking forward to this new and exciting task, as not only successes but also challenges lie ahead. With your mandate, it is a great honor for me to be able to lead the association and thus contribute to the continuation of its successful history of over thirty years. Cross-border cooperation is a matter close to my heart and I look forward to working with you to shape it in the interests of our Euroregion and our German-Polish border region. Thanks to the preparatory work of Rainer Schinkel and the stable association structures and very well-functioning office, this honorable task is made easy for me."
More info
You can find out more about the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion at:
www.euroregion-viadrina.de or on our Facebook profile:
https://www.facebook.com/euroregionviadrinaDE/