Europe Day Celebrated by Europe Direct Waterford & Team Europe
Europe Day, celebrated annually on May 9th, marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration. The Schuman Declaration is the proposal considered to have laid the foundation for what is now the European Union. Ireland became a member of the EU in 1973. Europe Day serves as a symbol of peace and unity in Europe, celebrating the progress made through cooperation, solidarity, and shared values.
To mark this year’s celebrations, Europe Direct Waterford hosted a range of engaging events in collaboration with Waterford Libraries, Team Europe, European Commission and local schools.
A key highlight was a seminar presented by Gerard Arthurs of Team Europe at St. Paul’s Community College. Fifty senior cycle students and teachers attended the event, which was made possible thanks to the support of Hilary Cantwell, JCSP School Librarian. Mr. Arthurs, lecturer in International Relations and Politics at SETU, delivered a thought-provoking seminar titled “An Experiment in Integration to Transform our Political Economy and Society.”
Students of Economics, Geography, and History explored a wide range of topics, including the EU as an experiment in integration, its transformative impact on the Irish state, current challenges and opportunities, and the future of the European Union. Both Europe Direct Waterford and St. Paul’s Community College extend their sincere thanks to Mr. Arthurs for an impartial, insightful, and stimulating session, and look forward to continued collaboration in future events.
In another Europe Day activity, sixty 6th class students from Mount Sion visited Europe Direct Waterford at Central Library. During their visit, they received goody bags branded with the Europe Direct logo and participated in engaging discussions about the history and significance of Europe Day.
These events provided meaningful opportunities for students of all ages to deepen their understanding of the European Union and to celebrate the shared values that unite member states.
The Europe Direct Information Centre based in Central Library, Waterford City, is one of a network of local contact points that serve as the direct link between you and the EU Institutions. The Europe Direct Information Centre is a service which helps you find answers to your questions about the European Union.
Team Europe Direct is a network of independent and inspirational speakers and moderators, proficient in EU topics and communication, capable of conveying the activities of the EU to a broad audience and stimulating public debate about Europe.
