News Releases

Ambassador John Bruton Teaches Washington-Lee High School Students about the European Union, Arlington, Virginia, May 9, 2005.
 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Who: EU Ambassador John Bruton will visit Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA to teach a class on the European Union and the importance of European unity for the United States.

When: from 9.00 to 9.45 a.m. on May 9, which is "Europe Day." This is the first time ever in the history of the EU's representation in Washington that local high schools have become part of the celebration. To cover this event, please contact the EU Commission Press Office at 202/862-9549 to arrange for access.

What: The significance of May 9 for Europe is that is commemorates the date (May 9, 1950) when the seeds of today's European Union were first sown. On that day, in a speech now known as "the Schuman plan," the French government set out a vision that called on France and Germany, devastated by World War II, to launch an unprecedented economic cooperation project that would make another war between them impossible. Joined by 4 other nations, the European Community came into being in 1957, and has remained true to its core objectives of peace and prosperity ever since, even as it enlarged to 25 member states, adopted a single currency (the euro) and, hopefully, a new Constitution for the 450 million EU citizens. The EU is important to the United States for economic, political and security reasons: it is the US's biggest trade and investment partner and is also the US's most powerful ally in fighting terrorism and supporting peace, prosperity and democracy around the world. An EU-US summit is held annually and the next one will be in Washington on June 20 at the White House.

Why: Ambassador John Bruton was chosen to represent the EU in Washington to help raise awareness of the European Union in Washington and in the United States. Since taking up his duties in December 2004, the former Irish Prime Minister has made outreach to high schools an important part of his job. "My job is to help Americans understand why the European Union is important to them. Talking to students is not only one of the most rewarding parts of my job, it's also one of the most important. These are the future leaders of the United States!"

The Ambassadors of 12 other EU member countries will also visit schools in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia on Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10. The 12 Ambassadors are: Arlette Conzemius (Luxembourg);Ulrik Federspiel (Denmark);Wolfgang Ischinger (Germany);Ratislav Kacer (Slovakia);Jean David Levitte (France); John Lowell (Malta);Eva Nowotny (Austria);Andras Simonyi (Hungary);Frans van Daele (Belgium);Wim Geerts (Netherlands);Jukka Valtasaari, (Finland); Samuel Zbogar (Slovenia).

For further information, please contact:

Maeve O'Beirne
Press Officer
European Commission Delegation
Washington DC
Tel: 202/862-9549
email: maeve.obeirne@cec.eu.int

Further Contact Information
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766