Island´s Europe Day celebrations

THE Balearic leader Francesc Antich joined in the celebration of Europe Day at the University campus, an event attended by nearly 2'000 students of all ages from local schools. Yesterday marked the celebration throughout Europe of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, the first step towards the construction of what is now the European Union. Activities included a sampling of the gastronomy of food from member countries, where one of the most unusual exhibits was a dish of Majorcan sopes with a German flag. There were also exhibitions, games - in some of which Antich took part - and theatre. The Balearic ministers of finance, Joan Mesquida, and education, Damiá Pons, and the University rector Llorenç Huguet presented the awards of the seventh edition of the Europa prize for young students. The social welfare minister, Fernanda Caro, presented the European Parliament's Euroescola award. The savings bank Sa Nostra joined in the celebrations of Europe Day by putting at the disposal of the public an information desk in the hall of its main office in the Son Fuster industrial estate. The desk, a joint venture between the farmers union and Sa Nostra's single currency office handed out material connected with the euro and European aid to interested parties.