Ten Countries Celebrate Europe Day at the UIC With Poetry Reading
Ten Countries Celebrate Europe Day at the UIC With Poetry Reading
The UIC's Charlemagne Institute for European Studies (ICEE) organized an event on Monday, 9 May 2011, to celebrate Europe Day with the entire university community. The event was attended by consuls and the representatives of ten European Union Member States, who recited poetry in their own languages. The focus was on European culture as an homage to the great diversity of cultures in the 27 Member States of the European Union.
The event began with the singing of the Anthem of Europe by the choir from Canigó School, which was followed by poetry readings and additional musical performances by the choir members.
Attending the event were José María Bové, the Honorary Consul-General of Austria in Barcelona; João Ribeiro de Almeida, Consul-General of Portugal; and Fernando Turó Omedes, Honorary Consul of Greece, as well as representatives from Slovenia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic, Hungary and Belgium.
On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman submitted a proposal for the creation of a supranational organization in Europe, an essential requirement for maintaining peaceful relations on the continent. This proposal, known as the Schuman Declaration, is considered the original idea for the creation for what is today’s European Union. The 9th of May has become a European symbol and is now Europe Day.
The UIC will once again be the headquarters of European culture on 14 May 2011, when the final meeting phase takes place of the European Culture competition, which is also organized by the Charlemagne Institute for European Studies. Nearly 50 teams from all over Spain are expected to participate in the competition.