De dag van het Europese Project, 22 Januari 2007 (en)

In Germany's schools, 22 January 2007 will be European Project Day. Chancellor Angela Merkel and members of the Federal Government, members of the Bundestag and of the European Parliament, Minister-Presidents and members of Land Parliaments will visit schools to discuss Europe with pupils.

European Project Day is the result of an initiative by Chancellor Merkel. The politicians involved want to use the start of Germany's Presidency of the EU Council to make European politics more accessible to young people.

A representative (but incomplete) list of politicians' visits to participating schools can be found at www.eu2007.de or cvd.bundesregierung.de. The press are asked to contact the relevant school. Technical questions may however be addressed to Referat 312 at the Federal Press and Information Office, tel. +49 (0)1888-272 3144, e-mail 312@bpa.bund.de.

In addition, 400 German staff of the European Commission will be coming directly from Brussels to provide young people with an insight into the day-to-day workings of European policy-making. Inquiries about school visits by the Commission staff should be addressed to Katrin Abele at the Press Office of the European Commission Representation in Germany, tel. +49 (0)30 / 2280-2160.

Federal Agency for Civic Education has made a wealth of information on Europe available on line at www.bpb.de/eu-projekttag.

Fourth Franco-German Day

European Project Day will coincide with Franco-German Day, held for the fourth time this year, established by a joint Franco-German declaration published on the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty (22 January 2003). Its goal is to promote cultural exchange and the partner country's language in the educational institutions of the two countries. Information on Franco-German Day is available at http://www.fplusd.org/and from various other sources in France and Germany.