JERUSALEM, May 10, 2018 (WAFA) – The European Union celebrated the Europe Day in Jerusalem and Ramallah on May 8 and 9, 2018, with hundreds of Palestinian and international partners working towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The day before, at the Manger Square in Bethlehem, the EU celebrated Europe Day with an open-air exhibition. The EU Village brought together over 12 EU Member States and European missions to showcase European heritage, culture and engagement with Palestinians.

On 10 May, the EU marked Europe Day with around 200 children at the SOS Children Village in Gaza. The events organized on the occasion of Europe Day reflected the spirit of partnership and values shared between the European Union and the Palestinians.

“We celebrated Europe Day this year in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Gaza. Marking Europe Day in four different locations in the same country is unique in the world,” said the EU Representative Ralph Tarraf.

“This, of course, is an opportunity to extend our celebrations across the Palestinian territories, but also reflects the tough reality of the continuous geographical and political fragmentation of Palestine.”

Sixty-eight years ago today, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed a joint authority to oversee French and German production of coal and steel, launching an ambitious and remarkable project which has shaped the course of European history and redefined Europe‘s place in the world.

M.N