Open Day 2018

Take a look inside the European Parliament

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Every year in May, the European Parliament celebrates Europe Day by inviting you to discover what goes on inside its buildings.

The Open Day is your chance to get closer to the people you elect to represent you and see how they work to defend your interests in the European Union.

The programme for the day includes:

a path through the European Parliament buildings will explain how the Members of the European Parliament represent European citizens;
talks inside the Hemicycle to explain what goes on inside the debating and voting plenary chamber;
public debates on fake news, on the European elections and on Europe's values;
a chance to meet the political groups and see what their priorities are;
a festive European atmosphere outside on the Agora Simone Veil with face painting, kite-making, 3D painting and a jazz brass band;
a DJ stage on Place du Luxembourg until 20:00.

The European Parliament will be open for the Open Day from 10:00 until 18:00, last entry 17:30, as well as the Parlamentarium and House of European History.

The House of European History is also celebrating one year since opening: a year of learning, reflection and debate on European history. Special activities will highlight Europe's diverse cultural heritage, including guided tours, traditional European dances and the chance to leave a ribbon on the museum gate with a message on what European heritage means to you.

Download the full programme (pdf 12MB)

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Take a look at the special activities (pdf 289KB)

Public Debates

Welcome

11:00

‘Fake News and Freedom of Speech’, debate with Christophe Deloire,

Secretary-General of 2005 Sakharov laureate Reporters without Borders and MEPs

11:10 - 12:10

‘European Elections 2019 – Why does it matter?’, debate & vote

13:00 - 13:30

‘What makes us European?', debate & vote with MEPs

14:00 - 14:30

‘European Elections 2019 – Why does it matter?’, debate & vote

15:00 - 15:30

‘What makes us European?', debate & vote with MEPs

16:00 - 16:30

Six institutions open their doors

The Open Day of the European Institutions is your chance to explore not just the European Parliament but the family of institutions in Brussels that make the European Union a reality. As well as the European Parliament, you can visit the European Council and Council of the European Union, European Commission, European External Action Service, European Economic and Social Committee and European Committee of the Regions. Take a look at the website for the Open Day for full details.

#BrusselsEuropeWeekend

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Brussels on the same weekend with Iris Festival 2018. Join Brusselians for a huge programme of free concerts and activities across Brussels on 5-6 May. Stop by Brussels Park on Sunday 6 May to see what you can do in Brussels and look out for the European Parliament!

Why we celebrate Europe day

Peace and solidarity were the pillars of Robert Schuman’s 1950 declaration, which he presented on 9 May 1950. He proposed that France and Germany share their natural resources in a bid to make conflict between the countries ‘not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible’. Other European nations joined the endeavour, which made European cooperation a reality.

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