The news was revealed during a recent Development Committee meeting after members heard that an Italian Twinning Project Manager had approached the Mayor of Ballymoney inviting the boroughs 'participation as the Northern Ireland partner'.

Already the Council has established important links with Vanves, a city in the suburbs of Paris, Benbrook, Texas in the United States of America and the Borough of Douglas in the Isle of Man.

The report explained: "An Italian Town Twinning Project Manager who is keen to create a link between European Municipalities with European grants - "Europe for Citizens" Programme 2007/2013 has approached the Mayor inviting our participation as the Northern Ireland partner.
"The Municipality of Ripatransone, acting as the project applicant, is located in the Marche Region, in the province of Ascoli Piceno.

Ripatransone has beautiful places to visit and it has many cultural attractions. Its territory is full of traditions linked to the specific features of the area and the city would like to be involved in initiatives which can foster new links with other Municipalities at a European level.

"The "Europe for Citizens" Programme gives a support to the European Municipalities that would like to start a co-operation. With this project, the Municipality of Ripatransone would like to invite a delegation from our Town (about 25/30 persons) and it would like to sign with your Municipality a Town-Twinning Act.

"The Municipality of Ripatransone will cover all the organization costs, with us requiring to cover our travel costs. The next year we would be expected to organize a similar event in our Town and will receive the grant by the EC for the organization costs.

"It is intended that business and community representatives from the two areas would take part in various activities in Ripatransone (seminars, tour visits, round table, citizens meeting, sport event) Youth is one of the priorities of this project and for this reason the delegation has to be composed in particular by many students.

"Ripatransone has to submit the candidature to the European Commission by the 1st June for a Town-Twinning event of 7/8 days from the 1 October to the 31 December 2009.
"No budget provision has been included for expansion of twinning links. Committee is invited to consider the proposal."

It was proposed by Cllr Malachy McCamphill and seconded by Alderman Campbell that information on costs be researched and the matter further considered at the next Council meeting.