Young people are gathering for the fifth Spring Day for Europe to debate their values, achievements and the future direction of Europe, while also learning more and meeting European public figures. The event, which runs from 26 March – the day that followed the signing of the Rome Treaty - until 30 June, celebrates this spring the last fifty years together by looking to the future.
Events are taking place in over 4 000 primary and secondary schools all over Europe. Competitions, exhibitions, debates and meetings are being held, alongside online conferences and chats where students in different countries can put their questions to local, national or even international personalities.
On 10 and 11 May, these were European commissioners Leonard Orban (multilingualism) and Margot Wallström (communication).
On 9 May, EuropeAid, the European Commission Co-operation office, did not miss the chance to reach young people and involved almost 100,000 students aged 13-18 in the Europe-Day in school project. Travelling to the four corners of Europe, some 100 officials working in the field of external cooperation visited more than 4,400 classes to speak about projects and activities carried out by the EU around the world.
From the dramatic reality of the street children in Kenya to the fight against global poverty, from Turkey’s accession to the EU to African migration, the EU’s actions in the humanitarian field were presented to the young audience in the form of round table discussions, drawing competitions, theatre performances, concerts and much more.
Both the Spring Day and Europe-Day in school projects have already proved to be a success over the past years, becoming a fully-integrated event in the calendar of an increasing number of European schools.
