"The European Union and non-discrimination": Commission launches competition open to all young people in EU

"The European Union and non-discrimination" is the title of a competition launched on 30 July 2007, in the middle of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, by Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for justice, freedom and security. European children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 are invited to design a poster on non-discrimination in the EU. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness among young Europeans of the work being done by the EU in this field.

"Abolishing discrimination and ensuring equal treatment and equal opportunities for EU citizens and residents, particularly the youngest among them, are objectives common to the European Union and its Member States. By saying NO TO DISCRIMINATION, we are reaffirming one of the fundamental values of Europe. This is a battle we have to fight every single day", Vice-President Frattini declared. "This is why", he continued, "as part of this competition and at a time when the European Union is celebrating its 50th birthday, I am encouraging young people to work together in teams on the theme of non-discrimination, so that they are better equipped to defend and promote this principle".

Those wishing to take part in the competition will have to design a poster illustrating the idea of non-discrimination in the European Union. Participants will be divided into two age categories (12-14 and 15-18) and must work in groups of at least four.

The entries will be judged first at national level, and prizes will be awarded to the three best teams in each age category at ceremonies to be held in each country on 20 November, International Children´s Rights Day.

The winners of the first prize in the national competition will compete in a second round at European level. The three top teams in each age group will be invited to visit Brussels from 15 to 17 December for a tour of the city and the European institutions and to attend a European award ceremony hosted by Vice-President Frattini.

The best posters will be displayed on the websites of the Commission´s representations in the Member States and on the Europa server. They may also be used in future European anti-discrimination campaigns.

This initiative is particularly timely given that, as mentioned before, the European Commission has declared 2007 the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. It is also in keeping with the Commission´s anti-discrimination policy and its determination to integrate this into all of its internal and external policies.

Further information may be found on the site
www.europayouth.eu
which contains links to the competition site.

This new competition follows one organised earlier this year on the theme of children´s rights. No fewer than 2 237 teams from all over the EU took up the challenge under the heading "Speak up for your rights!" and submitted designs for a poster on the rights of the child. The best of these, which can be found on the Internet site at
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/frattini/children/children_2006_en.htm#national

might also be used in future European campaigns.

Reproduced with the permission of the European Commission REF IP/07/1190