The European External Action Service opened its doors to the public in celebration of the annual Open Day of the European Union on 5 May 2018 in Brussels. Both EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS took part in the one-day event, along with representatives of the latter’s counterparts from the Palestinian Civil Police and the Palestinian Bar Association. The Missions’ teams briefed the public on the mandate of the two missions as well as the activities they conduct with the Palestinian counterparts.
The festive event drew audience from different nationalities and aimed at providing visitors with a broad overview of the EU involvement across the world.
The occasion, Europe Day, the 9th of May, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical 'Schuman declaration'. At a speech in Paris in 1950, the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable. Each year thousands of people take part in visits, debates, concerts and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU.
Here at home, EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS celebrated Europe Day in an outdoor air exhibition organized by the EU Representative Office in Bethlehem on 7 May 2018 . As part of the event, called EU Village, the EU Member States and Missions organized a number of activities to exhibit the European heritage and engagement with Palestinians.
