Mr Xuereb, who spent his first years in New York is a professional photographer and reading for a degree in History of Art at the University of Malta, will be in Dublin between 24 April and 2 May.
He will be joining other artists from the accession countries and EU Member States. They will participate in ‘Youth Arts’ an event being organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) on 1 May.
Mr Xuereb was chosen by the NYCI through the local youth organisations, including the National Youth Council. The event is being funded by YOUTH, an EU funded programmes.
All the young people had to prepare artistic projects to take with them to Dublin prior to the Enlargement celebrations. The projects will be used on the official ‘Day of Welcomes’ EU Enlargement ceremony
The ceremony on 1 May will be hosted by Ireland’s Head of State, President Mary McAleese.
Leaders of all 25 EU member states will gather together, for the first time ever, in Ireland to take part in the ceremonial event to commemorate this momentous occasion in European history.
Mr Xuereb was invited to Dublin together with President Dr Eddie Fenech Adami by the Irish President. The event will be broadcast throughout Europe and access to the ceremony is strictly limited.
Some of the projects prepared for the event included creating an image that depicted their life at the age of seven. This, Mr Xuereb told The Malta Independent on Sunday could be a photo of an old toy, or an old family photo.
“ In my case, aged 7, I was living in New York, thinking about coming to Malta,” he said.
Asked why he voted in favour of EU membership, Mr Xuereb said he believes that the EU is a positive step ahead for everyone, especially young people to learn and make the best use of the opportunities available in the EU.
“The improvements are greater than the disadvantages in the EU – that is why I am in favour of membership” he said.
The ‘Youth Arts’ event will commission young people in the celebration of EU enlargement and will gather young people from the enlarged EU. All are involved in the production of a piece of art created together under the guidance of professional community artist Mary Keane.
Using the enlargement of the EU as its theme, the piece should reflect the diversity of the 25 Member States and represent the fruits of co-operation and create young energy. The piece of art will be constructed as monument to mark both the youth contribution to the Enlargement celebrations and the Irish Presidency.
Ireland’s assumption of the Presidency of the EU for the period between January and June this year comes at a pivotal time in the history of the EU. The significant enlargement of the EU to include ten new members states on 1 May 2004 represent the single biggest expansion of the EU to date and moreover will increase the population of young people to over 75 million.