Education Minister Louis Galea and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo, together with various ambassadors, visited Dun Carlo Manché Primary School yesterday on the occasion of Spring Day in Europe.

The theme for this year’s project was the European Union’s 50th birthday.

The event, which is held annually, aims to give young people a voice by creating awareness of European issues and giving them the opportunities to discuss these issues with European Union authorities.

For the duration of the project, various schools will be visited by MEPs, ambassadors and the heads of the EU Commission Representation and the EU Parliament Information Office, as well as other officials. This year, it is hoped that, apart from being celebratory, the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaty will again be an opportunity for students to learn more about the European Union and use the experiences of the past to inform the way forward.

Since 25 March fell on a Sunday, and 26 March was the official launch of the Spring Day project, schools were asked to hold a small activity to mark the actual signing of the Treaty on 27 March. During this activity, children presented background information with the theme Together since 1957 and also reflected on their aspirations for the next 50 years, by which time they themselves will be decision-makers.

These school activities, related to the 50th anniversary and Spring Day in Europe, will reach a climax on Europe Day, 9 May, when participating schools will meet at the Parliament in Valletta.