EFFORTS to offer a hand of friendship across Europe have earned Durham County Council international recognition.

The council is the only UK local authority to be named on the roll of honour for the 2002 Europe Prize. County Durham was selected by the 43 member states of the Council of Europe among only 12 towns or authorities across the continent to receive the Plaque of Honour, the second highest distinction.

Active twinning links fostered by Durham, initially with Kreis Wesel in Germany in 1953, earned the council its honour.

Links have been maintained with Kreis Wesel and have now been followed by twinning arrangements with Banska Bystrica in Slovakia, Kostroma in Russia, Tubingen in Germany, Naksov in Denmark, the Department of the Somme in France, Alcala de Guadaira in Spain, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok in Hungary, plus its namesake in North Carolina, USA.

County council chairman Charles Magee hailed the Plaque of Honour award as a tremendous achievement. "Since embarking on those first links in 1953 with Kreis Wesel, the county council has been committed to developing a greater understanding of Europe among young people and adults in the county.

"We were delighted to receive the Council of Europe's Flag of Honour in 1968 for our commitment to European unity and we're proud of the fact that over 2,000 people each year either travel to, or host someone from, one of our partner areas.

"But to be among such a select group of 12 to receive a Plaque of Honour is a tremendous accolade, particularly since no other authority in the UK has received any prize in this year's awards."

Apart from the large number of town twinning links, the county council also takes a leading role in managing many European programmes and initiatives at local, regional and national levels.