Anne Hidalgo inaugurated the village of Europe on the Square of the Town hall

The town of Paris celebrates for the 13th time the Festival of Europe by commemorating the declaration of Robert Schuman pronounced in 1950.

The institutional partners of the town of Paris, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the House of Europe were linked to emphasize the countries of Europe on the square of the Town hall May 12th and 13th.

Guests of reputation were present such as the vice–president of the European Commission Frans Timmermann, the minister Frenchwoman of the European business Nathalie Loiseau and the vice–president of the European Parliament Sylvie Guillaume but also the European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici. This year, a national conference was taken place in the presence of elected officials of all France who signed a charter of the commitment on the European citizenship and discussed Europe in the local government agencies.

This 13th edition was also the occasion to reward the award–winnings for the Label Paris Europe 2018 at the time of the ceremony which was held in the living rooms of the Town hall. This label created in 2002 gratifies the Parisians who undertake local initiatives innovating for the development of the spirit and the citizenship of Europe in link with their city. They are a call for projects which is addressed to Parisian associations of more than one year of existence like to the universities, high schools, colleges and elementary schools which wish to implement projects at European dimension. For this edition 2018, the label “Europe and Culture” was to support a better comprehension of the project and European values, in particular through innovating and ludic actions, to promote the participation citizen, the collective commitment and the emergence of a European public space, more particularly near youth, to emphasize cultural plurality European, to develop a culture of the equality and fight against all forms of discrimination, to support the social economy and interdependent, and the development projects durable, to develop the educational exchanges international, in particular digital, with regard to the universities, the high schools, the colleges and the elementary schools and to support new technologies and the projects innovating, in particular in public space. The best projects received a financial aid ranging between 1000 euros and 10,000 euros.  In addition, since 2013, the label of the European heritage emphasizes the sites which play a crucial role in the history, the culture and the European development; 38 sites received already this label and are presented on the grids of the public garden of the Tower St Jacques from May 7th to June 1st.

From May 7th to May 13th, the Festival of Europe was held on the square of the Town hall in the presence of the European embassies, of the arts centres and European associations but also in the districts. The two days program of commemoration May 12th and 13th on the square started with the handing–over of the labels Paris Europe followed by the opening of the village and its unveiling. Five films carried out by large European directors were shown in after midday in order to touching the 17/35 years and showing them their basic rights and the benefit to be member of the European Union. and of the groups coming from Italy, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands occurred on scene.

From 14 at 16:00, the projection of the film award–winning of the Price LUX proceeded with the auditorium. This price is a cinematographic prize decreed by the European Parliament and awarded by a trained jury of European deputies. It rewards a work which illustrates the universality of the European values, the cultural diversity and the process of continental construction. This year, it is the film “Sami” of the director Amanda Kernell; he tells the story of a Lappish teenager in search of freedom during the time of between two wars.

After this projection, a European dialogue in the presence of the invited personalities, Pierre Moscovici, Sylvie Guillaume and Nathalie Loiseau opened. The evening ended in concerts around 22:00. In same time, Anne Hidalgo met the various exhibitors.
This new opus present of the innovations as a prolongation of the program the following day is on May 13th when many stands will remain open, a course of night makes it possible to the late bedders to reach certain clubs of the capital, of the preferential rates being booked with the carriers of bracelets withdrawn the day on the square. In addition, Arc de Triomphe covered the colors of Europe from May 9th to May 12th in order to mark the Day of the Festival of Europe and the Année Européenne of the heritage culture.

The embassies of Austria, Bulgaria and Malta opened with the public. With regard to Bulgaria, the country took over the presidency of the European Union for the first time in January this year, 10 years after its adhesion.  This country poorest and is corrupted the most of the EU and wants to be essential in the region of Balkans, while maintaining a balance with its powerful neighbors: Turkey and Russia.  The digital economy is one of the broad topics of this period of presidency, this is why the country wishes to accommodate startups of other European countries in order to boost its economy. The next presidency will be that of Austria. In addition, the President of the Republic will go to Sofia May 16th and 17th to the Summit European–Balkans Union Western.
The large stations symbols of the doors of Europe proposed texts in the distributors of short stories. Lastly, the House of Europe proposes a new application to test its knowledge on Europe with 600 questions out of 3 levels of difficulties, in the presence of the pupils of the high school Armand Carrel who take part in this program.
On May 9th, dates from the day from Europe, Anne Hidalgo and 14 other mayors of various political sensibilities whose Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice, signed a platform reaffirming their attachment with an interdependent European Union, humanistic democratic and useful for the citizens by adopting a charter for the European citizenship by which they ‘engage to inform managed on the achievements of the European Union, rights and values that it incarnates.

Among the examples testifying to the positive contribution of the European Union, one can quote the combat against the medical desertisation, the ecological transition which supports the largest photovoltaic power station of the continent, the sustainable development and the accompaniment of 1,600 people in the search for a long–term employment or obtaining a formation. It made it possible to reinforce the tourist attractivity of the territories and to help the most stripped by supporting the food banks and the Resto du coeur.

The European Union is misunderstood French citizens who as a whole wait of advantage of Europe. The next year, the next European elections will be held, this is why, it is important that this vision and this ignorance change. Also let us recall that the Funds of a company European brings over the period 2014/2020 a help of 125 billion euros in order to improve the life of the citizens while helping more than 7.4 million participants in unemployment to find an employment and more than 2.2 million people six months after their participation. It must profit to 9.9 million people having a low level from studies, 7.5 million disadvantaged people, 6.2 million young people and 7.2 million active people working in associations, independent…

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VERONIQUE YANG

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