May 2011. Florence becomes European capital Festival d’Europa

Florence, 11 February 2011 – “Outside the usual institutional seats, the Festival d’Europa of Florence will gather together the main movers of the European integration process. It is a unique opportunity to have sitting at the same table in the Tuscany’s capital city President of the European Commission Barroso, President of the European Parliament Buzek, Vice President of the Commission Tajani, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Ashton, Commissioner Vassiliou and Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Frattini. This will occur next May on the occasion of the Festival d’Europa first edition”, explains Marco Del Panta, Secretary General of the European University Institute, the inventor and promoter of the event taking place from the 6th to the 10th of May 2011 in Florence. “This way, the city will be converted into a laboratory to reflect upon the future of Europe, enhancing Florence vocation as the city hosting the only European academic institution, the European University Institute, established by the Member States of European Communities”. The Festival, which, according to the promoters, would become a biennial appointment, will include the “Conference on the State of the Union”, having among its main objectives to take stock of the state of the European integration process in the main sectors. The Festival proposes itself also as a laboratory for the European Union communication to the general public. “Florence as one of the European Capitals. It will occur next May thanks to the Festival d’Europa first edition and the presence in Tuscany of the most important European leaders”, confirmed Josep Borrell, President of the European University Institute, during the presentation of the event. “The Festival d’Europa will give us the opportunity to internationally promote Florence and, at the same time, revive the role of the Institute as the inventor and promoter of the event, at European and national level. Among the several objectives of the Festival d’Europa, the increase of citizens’ participation in the decision-making processes of the European institutions. Having been President of the European Parliament, I know the importance of a higher knowledge of the Union to ensure a deeper participation of citizens in the EU decision-making processes.”