The EPP-ED Group, the largest political force in the European Parliament, will be taking part in the European Parliament's Festival of Europe Open Day in Strasbourg on May 9

Photos of the event 

The occasion will allow European citizens to see where European democracy finds expression.

The EPP-ED Group, which has 233 of the 626 European deputies and is the largest group in the European Parliament, looks forward to welcoming you and answering questions about its activities and political positions.

There will be audio-visual messages from Group President Hans-Gert Poettering and Margie Sudre, leader of the Group's French delegation.

Visitors will find plenty of informative documentation throughout the Open Day - doors open at 10.00 and close at 18.00 . You will also be able to consult our Internet site and to meet in person Joseph Daul, a member of the EPP-ED Group, chairman of the Agriculture and Development Committee. There will also be numerous displays to inform and interest everyone.

There will be opportunities throughout the day for visitors to take a tour of the Louise Weiss building (this takes an hour). Meeting rooms, press equipment, reception areas and restaurants, the administrative offices, along with all the areas normally reserved for European deputies, have been opened to the public. And for the first time ever, visitors will be able to go into the Hemicycle itself.

Detailed explanations about the parliament building itself, a great modern architectural project, will be provided by those responsible for welcoming you.

There will also be stands for the European Ombudsman, the European Defence Corps, the Information Centre for the European institutions, the Alsace Region, the City of Strasbourg Young Strasbourg Europeans.

And also taking part will be Architecture Studio, the Louis Pasteur University, the René Cassin College, Protagora, the Achenheim Harmonie....

At midday, to celebrate the Festival of Europe, there will be ceremony of raising the European colours by a detachment of the European Defence Corps.

Schuman declaration  (9 May 1950)

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