6-10 May 2011 Florence The Festival of Europe - Mission Florence as the place for interpreting and reflecting on the Europe of tomorrow. Florence as the home of the only European academic institution, the European University Institute, founded by the member states of the European Communities. Florence as a workshop for European Union communications to its citizens. Florence as a showcase for the activities of the European Union and its member States. The Festival of Europe, conceived and coordinated by the European University Institute, aims to highlight this “unusual” vocation of the Tuscan capital. The event will see the active participation of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Italian Ministry for European Affairs - in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the major local institutions such as Tuscany Regional council, Florence provincial and city councils, the regional Board of Education, Florence University and the Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) Agency. The highlight of the event is the “Conference on the State UNDER DISTINGUISHED IDEATED AND PROMOTED BY SPONSORED BY of the Union”, where debates at the highest level are foreseen regarding PATRONAGE the progress made on the road to European integration since the Treaty of OF THE PRESIDENT Lisbon. OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, the Italian Minister for Foreign PROMOTED BY Affairs, Franco Frattini, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth Androulla Vassilou and other personalities will take part in the Conference, to be held in Palazzo Vecchio th th politicheeuropee.it on May 9 and 10 . The debate will also see contributions from journalists, academics and Italian and European businessmen. For the whole duration of the Festival of Europe, from 6th-10th May 2011, Florence will be turning blue, the main colour of the EU flag. The city’s squares, cultural centres, theatres and schools will host cultural events, exhibitions, WITH THE SUPPORT OF teaching and academic events and socio-economic debates. There will also be some special events such as a “Blue Night“, the presentation of the “Galileo 2000 Prize” and the “Fabbrica Europa“ theatre Festival. 1 Josep Borrell Fontelles Matteo Renzi President of the European University Institute and Scientific Director Mayor of Florence and President of the Organizing Committee of the of the Festival of Europe Festival of Europe The Festival of Europe is a unique opportunity for Florence and an important “The Festival of Europe is an important event, an enormous opportunity for opportunity for Europe. This is proved by the participation of so many key players Florence. Thanks to the initiative of the President of the European University on the European scene. Their support turns an event conceived and coordinated Institute, Josep Borrell, of the Secretary General, Marco Del Panta, and of all by the European University Institute (EUI) into a significant opportunity to bring the institutions which are supporting the event, for a few days Florence will Europe closer to its citizens and to highlight the contributions in terms of ideas once again be one of the European capitals. I think that this initiative will that the EUI can make towards the building of the Europe of tomorrow. be particularly profitable for the younger generations, who have grown up This festival comprises a partnership between several different actors. The EUI calculating how many Euros they have in their pocket but not how much Europe invited the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Italian they have in their hearts. The future Florence will either be European or it will Ministry for European Affairs, the major local institutions: City, Provincial and have lost much of its distinguishing feature as a city which speaks to the whole Regional Councils, Florence Chamber of Commerce and University, the Italian world. I sincerely hope that this event will take us further in the right direction”. Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) Agency, to get involved. Each has done their part, organizing and financing significant events. Scores of partners from the field of culture have contributed to enriching the programme. And finally, the support of our sponsors has made the whole event possible. Without exception, all the events will embody the European spirit. From the cultural to the more institutional events, the objective is to generate debate and open up to different ideas. In this spirit, the EUI has scheduled a “Conference on the State of the Union” (Palazzo Vecchio, 9 – 10 May), at which politicians, academics, journalists and civil society representatives can come together to debate on the future of Europe. Florence’s buildings and squares will be imbued with the great European issues as they host a series of crowd-pulling events which make up a schedule full of original initiatives which all have in common their attention to European values. The Festival represents a great common effort to dedicate more space to Europe at a time when it is more necessary than ever to look to the future. Thanks to this event, Florence will become a European Capital for five days. A capital where the future of Europe is reflected on too, thanks to the presence and renewed collaboration between the EUI and Florence University. One of the objectives of the Festival of Europe is that of enhancing EU citizens’ awareness of how European institutions work. From my personal experience as President of the European Parliament, I know how vital a better acquaintance with the Union is to assuring a more enthusiastic participation of the citizens in the EU decision-making processes. 2 3 The Festival of Europe programme the late Giovanni Spadolini’s “house of books”. The Giovanni Spadolini Foundation will be running guided tours throughout the day (Pian dei Giullari The Festival of Europe programme is packed with exciting and crowd- 138). Visitors will be shown Spadolini’s collections of historic objects and books, pulling events. Throughout the Festival, the Odeon cinema will be narrating art and documents, with particular emphasis on the Renaissance collections. contemporary Europe by hosting film previews, special guests and crossover On Monday May 9 the Festival of Europe will turn to the Preservation of Historic jazz/drum-and-bass music. Façades. “History and materials: the façades of European and Florentine The full schedule kicks off on Friday May 6 with the meeting “University historic buildings” is the title of the event organized by the Associazione Education on the Move”. Meeting between Erasmus organizers (9 a.m., Palazzo Spinelli, (Palazzo Ridolfi, in Via Maggio 13, at 5 p.m.). Students will also Aula Magna - Main Auditorium - Florence University, P.za San Marco 4). At be in the limelight at the Festival of Europe. May 9 will see the prize-giving 10 a.m. the Europe Pavilion in Piazza Signoria hosts the workshop “EUROPE for the winners of the educational project Europe at School (Palazzo Medici 2020 - Europe in schools: Project EUROPE = US”. The final lecture in “The Riccardi, at 2.30 p.m.). That evening, Florence’s Pergola Theatre will host the costs of non Europe” course held at Florence University’s Political Science XIV edition of the “Galileo 2000 Prize” where award winners will include Josè Faculty from November 2010-April 2011 will be given in the Headquarter in Manuel Barroso, Jean-Claude Juncker and Haris Alexiou. Novoli (Auditorium, Via delle Pandette, 32 at 3 p.m.). The closing event of the Highlights of Tuesday May 10 include the forum on “Infrastructure, networks day will be a talk by Giuliano Amato entitled “The European Union: can and networking for Europe” (Palazzo Vecchio, Sala de’ Dugento, 9.30 a.m.). we overcome the stalemate?”. Mobility will also be the subject of another A united Europe is not merely a political project but a complex socio-cultural meeting on May 6 entitled Infrastructure: sustainability and mobility. What and economic scenario which requires the support of efficient infrastructure, happens when people and goods circulate freely, but ideas do not (Novoli networks and networking opportunities. The Forum will examine issues such as Auditorium, Via delle Pandette 32), including guest speaker Marco Ricceri, the hubs of urban and regional mobility in Europe. In the afternoon the Centre Secretary General of Eurispes. The subject of volunteering will also be covered for Studies, Documentation and Education on the European Union (CESUE) in the “Citizens’ Forum meeting the role of volunteering in the European and the Florence section of the European Federalist Movement are organizing Social Model” (Palazzo Vecchio, Sala d’Arme, at 5 p.m.). This meeting is one of a meeting entitled “For a reform of the European budget and economic the events scheduled in connection with the European Year of Volunteering governance in order to meet the Europe 2020 objectives“(Europe Pavilion, 2011. The first evening of the Festival of Europe will have music and shows in Piazza Signoria,6 p.m.), which aims to analyse the current status of the piazza Signoria. Make a date with “Sounds and Voices from Europe” beneath economic governance of the European Union. the Loggia dei Lanzi, bathed in blue light in keeping with the official colour of The Festival of Europe also includes exhibitions, films and theatre. the European Union. The artistes performing will be from the various European From May 6, the Florence National Central Library will be exhibiting part of Union States present at the Festival. one of the largest existing cartography collections. Its collection, one of the On Saturday May 7 the first event scheduled is “The role of Italy in European largest in Italy and one of the most comprehensive in the world, comprises integration” (Sala d’Arme, Palazzo Vecchio, 9.30 a.m.).