Open Dag Europees Parlement (en)

Nearly 20,000 visitors flocked to the European Parliament on Saturday when it opened its doors to the public in honour of Europe Day in May. They not only got to enjoy activities such as trying out the electronic voting system or having their picture taken with a life-size cardboard version of EP i president Martin Schulz i, but they were also treated to film screenings, an ehibition about the Sakharov Prize and a debate between MEPs about a citizens' Europe.

Debate on a citizens' Europe

The discussion focussed on a citizens' Europe as 2013 is the European Year of Citizens. EP vice president Othmar Karas i, an Austrian member of the EPP group, said in his opening speech: "In order to find European solutions it is important to listen to the citizens and to be in contact with them, for example via social media." Vice president Isabelle Durant i, a Belgian member of the Green group, added: "Especially now it is important to open the doors of the European Parliament to citizens." Visitors asked MEPs about what the EP is doing to reduce youth unemployment and how the EU can be discussed in a more positive way in member states.

Activities

Trailers for film nominated for the Parliament's Lux Prize were shown, while an exhibition on the Sakharov Prize provided more information on where winners came from and why they had received the awrd. Children could take part in a voting card workshop to learn more about the European electoral process and build the European map with cubes to find out more about Europe's geography. People could also test their knowledge of the EP in 10 quizzes spread around the Parliament.

About Europe Day

Europe Day is held every year on 9 May to mark the speech Robert Schuman made on that day in 1950 to propose the European Coal and Steel Community, made up of France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy. This later developed into the European Union.