Bern to celebrate Europe Day
Switzerland is to join other countries in marking Europe Day, the anniversary of the start of the European unification process.
It will follow the official Europe-wide celebrations on Saturday with an event in Bern on Monday featuring Eneko Landaburu, head of external relations at the European Commission, and Peter Brabeck, chairman of the board of Nestlé, as guest speakers. Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin will be the guest of honour.
Europe Day marks the anniversary of the Schumann Declaration made on May 9, 1950. The declaration aimed to pool the French and West German coal and steel industries and is considered a founding moment for what is now the European Union.
"2009 is not only a crisis year but also a unique moment in world history and a unique opportunity to solve the world's problems together," said EU Commissioner for External Relations Beinta Ferrero-Waldner, in marking the anniversary on Saturday.
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