Erasmus - the world's largest university exchange programme - is 20 next
year. Over a million students have taken part in this rewarding and challenging
experience since it began in 1987. Celebrations will run throughout 2007 with a
number of special events.
Celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the European voluntary service,
which helps young people discover another European country and culture by
taking part in non-profit-making schemes, were held in Brussels on 26-27
November. Numerous events were held for former and future volunteers,
policy makers and stakeholders.
European unification is about more than just politics and economics – it also has a huge cultural dimension. The grass-roots initiative "Soul for Europe" focuses on cultural aspects and promotes the idea of "a Europe by and for Europeans", not just of institutions.
One of the largest collections of books from the Renaissance period, digital
facsimiles of the works of Hans Christian Andersen and a collection of Latvian
posters reflecting culture, politics and social life between 1899-2000 are just
some of the works accessible through the European Digital Library.
The European Commission adopted a Communication on 8 September that stresses
the need to step up both the efficiency and equity of education and training
systems.
Only five days after Cultural Affairs Ministers secured the continuity of
Media 2007 with an increased budget, representatives of the film industry, of
internet service providers and of telecom operators from the EU and the US
endorsed the European Film Online Charter on 23 May.
