Europe Day celebrated in Belmopan

An open day, organized by the Government of Belize and the United Nations Development Program, was held in Belmopan in honor of Europe Day.  The aim was to call to attention various achievements under the EU funded Global Climate Change Alliance project which commenced in June 2011.  The purpose of GCCA is to improve Belize’s resistance to the effects of climate change through its involvement in the water sector, as well as to develop government’s role in relation to climate change.  Present at the launch was EU Ambassador Paola Amadei.

Paola Amadei, Ambassador, European Union

Paola Amadei

“Every year on May ninth, the European Union and its twenty-eight member states commemorate the Schuman Declaration.  It is a declaration by a French minister which is considered to be marking the launch of the European Union, the first European community, the European Union now and it was an appeal for peace and unity after the continent had been ravaged by war during decades in the twentieth century, the beginning of the twentieth century.  Therefore the European Union was born as a project for reconciliation and peace and it’s very fitting that it coincides with the end of the second World War and since two years we have launched this tradition in the delegation in Kingston to extend the celebration over a full month and to transform May in Europe Month.  This allows us not only to celebrate it in the different countries where we are for which we are responsible but also it allows different organization, government to join in the celebration with their own event.  So the event this morning which has been organized by UNDP, it’s the first of string of events here in Belize this week and next week to celebrate Europe but also to celebrate the partnership between Europe and Belize.”