The traveling information exhibition of the European Union “Europe on Wheels” is carried out in the summer of 2005 as part of the Information Programme of the European Commission Delegation in Bulgaria (www.evropa.bg). The public relations agency “MARC Communications” (www.marc-com.com) is coordinator of the project in partnership with the College of Europe Alumni Association in Bulgaria (ABSKEB) (on the participation of the ancient(ne)s see further below).

Being a continuation of a similar initiative in 2004 (that covered 12 towns in the country), this year’s “Europe on Wheels” has a much larger scale. In 2005 the exhibition visits 30 Bulgarian towns with a population below 10 thousand inhabitants:

In each town the exhibition opens doors at 15:00, when visitors and guests can view photos from various European cities. They receive informational materials about the European Union, its institutions, programs and history, as well as on the process of Bulgaria’s integration to the European Union. They can watch the film “Signs on the road”, which presents successful Bulgarian projects, funded under European programs.

Meetings and discussion are organized after 18:00, at which experts in European integration from ABSKEB answer questions that concern citizens in connection with Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union. A couple of weeks before the visit of the exhibition in a particular town, its citizens have been able to ask written questions and slip in their requests in “Ask about Europe” boxes placed in municipal buildings. These questions are the basis of debate.

The youngest guests are attracted by a competition for children drawings entitled “My European Fairy Tale”, quizzes, performances of local groups for songs, music or dance.

For a second year in a row the “Europe on Wheels” initiative is popularized with the support of the Association of Bulgarian Radio and TV Operators.

Scenario of the events:

13:00-15:00 Arrival of the Europe-on-wheels truck

15:00-20:00 Opening of the exhibition. Meeting with experts in European integration.
Children’s drawing competition entitled “My European fairy tale”(by 19:00)

18:00-19:00 Celebrations with the participation of the local authorities. Quiz for the audience.

19:00-19:40 Lecture and discussion about the European Union in the exhibition’s information tent.

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As experts in European integration, the ancienne)s have the following tasks in the framework of every information event:

• They offer information on EU-related issues and consult visitors of the exhibition.
• They deliver a lecture and mediate a discussion on the enlargement of the European Union and Bulgaria’s accession efforts.

Apart from that, they consult “MARC Communications” on the preparation of information materials aimed for dissemination during the information events.

The following ABSKEB members take part in the implementation of the “Europe on Wheels” project:

The participation of “ancien(ne)s” received special coverage in the 31^st July report of the internet news edition WWW.NOVINITE.COM

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PHOTOS FROM THE TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
“EUROPE ON WHEELS”