To celebrate Europe Day, the Institute for European Studies and the Europe Direct Information Centre (UM) held a series of events through-out the week of 6 th May. The events began with the inauguration of an exhibition in the main library celebrating 25 years of the Single Market. The exhibition ran throughout the week and outlined the main achievements on the road to creating the world’s biggest single market.
On 8 May the Europe Direct Information Centre and the Institute for European Studies held the annual Europe Day ‘quiz night’ at Is-Suq Tal-Belt in Valletta. The annual event attracted 100 students from various courses and was compered by TV personality, Ronald Briffa. The event was opened by Dr Mark Harwood, Director of the Institute, as well as representatives from the European Commission’s Representation and the EP Office. The event was a fun evening of EU related questions with the winning team being awarded travel vouchers of EUR 100 each.
On 9 May, the Europe Direct Information Centre and the Institute for European Studies participated in the 'Europe Day Food Market' arranged on campus by JEF as well as sponsoring the ‘vino e vino’ event organised by JEF in the evening of Europe Day.
On the same day the Institute also undertook a courtesy visit to the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality at the invitation of the Minister, the Hon. Helena Dalli. The delegation, led by the Director, Dr Mark Harwood, comprised 40 students and included meeting the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and members of the EU Secretariat, many of whom are alumni of the Institute.
On Friday 10 May, the Europe Direct Information Centre sponsored the LGBTIQ Symposium organised by the Department of Gender Studies. The event took place in the evening and involved 3 panels where researchers presented a breakdown of their work on LGBTIQ themes and was organised in cooperation with the EDIC, MGRM and the Human Rights and Integration Directorate within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality. The aim is to make this symposium an annual event.