On Thursday 1 July, welcoming the new Belgian presidency of the European Union, the European Movement Belgium in collaboration with Mini-Europe organized an open event for families and young people to celebrate the second term of the presidential trio (Spain, Belgium and Hungary). The event, which was held in Mini-Europe, a tourist landmark in Brussels, opened with inspiring speeches by Mr Thierry Meeùs, Managing Director of Mini-Europe, Mrs Anne Van Lancker, President of EM Belgium and Mr Jean-Luc Vanraes, Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region along with Mr Carlos Fernandez-Arias Minuesa, Permanent Representative of Spain to the WEU Council, and Mr Zoltán Hernyes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary, who discussed the challenges that the presidency would face including combating poverty and social exclusion in the context of the financial and economic crisis.
 
The over 300 participants were then invited to pull a 300 metre long European banner from mini-Budapest to mini-Brussels via mini-Madrid while proudly waving their European flags. The celebrations ended with the release of balloons and fireworks. This celebration was the first of many to come all over Brussels and the country.

The afternoon was a great success, bringing together participants of all ages and from all over Europe, in an effort to display the importance of values linking people and nations together and providing them with a sense of identity and solidarity.

To learn more about what events will be taking place, please visit the EMB website:

http://www.mouvement-europeen.be/