Gdansk
Sefton has been twinned with Gdansk in Poland since 1993.
The co-operation between Gdansk and Sefton Council was initiated by Mrs Danuta Sobolewska (Anglo-Polish Society, Southport). While visiting Poland in 1992 at the meeting of the European Union of Women, she suggested the link as Sefton and Gdansk have a lot in common with similar shoreline and ports.
The twinning arrangements were ratified at a Council meeting held on 22 April 1993.
Mons
Sefton has been twinned with Mons in Belgium since 1964.
The Twinning link with Mons began in June 1964 when the Head Teacher of Bootle Grammar School, Jean Berbiers (who was born in Belgium) encouraged the former Bootle County Borough Council to enter into a formal twinning agreement with the City of Mons.
The principal connection between the two areas centred on the Battle of Mons in 1914, when the King's Regiment (Liverpool) fought alongside other British regiments against the invading German forces. The year 1964, therefore, marked the 50th anniversary of the battle.
The formal twinning agreement was signed on 20 June 1964 following a Council Meeting at Bootle Town Hall and a return visit was arranged in September of that year. Some of the ex servicemen who had fought in World War One made the pilgrimage.
Mons was the European Capital of Culture in 2015.