Institutions get even closer to the people

Date: 08/05/1997

By Leyla Linton

THOUSANDS of curious citizens will get a chance to see inside EU institutions this weekend.

For the first time, the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee will join the European Parliament, Commission and Council of Ministers in opening their doors to the public.

The open day on Saturday (10 May) commemorates Schuman Day - the anniversary of a speech given by the former French prime minister in 1950 which laid the foundations of today's Union - and will this year also mark the 40th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome.

Although largely symbolic, the day is seen as one way for the Union to get closer to the people. “It is a question of image,” said one official.

The European Parliament was the first institution to have an open day, in 1994, but this year, for the first time, visitors will be allowed to enter the hemi-cycle and sit in their MEPs' seats.

Other innovations will be a “virtual reality” tour of the Parliament and the Commission and a display of regional singing and dancing at the Schuman roundabout, where regional specialities will also be served.

Last year, the most popular institution was the European Parliament, which attracted 12,000 people, followed by the Council with 4,500 and the Commission with 2,000.

Ramón Jimenéz Fraile, who was involved in the Council's open day last year, said: “It was a happy and friendly experience. It was nice for officials from the Council to meet the public. People had a much more positive approach than we thought they would. We thought they would be more critical.”

Buildings will be open between 10am and 7pm and at 6.30pm a chamber music concert at the Parliament will close the event. A free bus service will shuttle visitors between the EU institutions and lunch will be available at the Parliament.