Brussels, 05/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Nearly 500 teachers are meeting in Seville from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 February to celebrate the fifth anniversary of eTwinning, an action that creates online communities of teachers and schools across Europe. Through eTwinning, over 85,000 teachers from across Europe work together in international school activities involving more than 50,000 schools in 32 European countries. In the five years of its existence, eTwinning has grown from being a partner-finding tool for teachers to become a rich, Europe-wide community of teaching and learning. On 5 February, a prize ceremony is being held for 37 schools from 21 countries that have won this year's awards for excellence in eTwinning. Event participants in Seville will take stock of the initiative. In a press release, the European Commission notes the eTwinning makes the most of Web 2.0 tools to promote: - project work with pupils; - online communities for teachers, ; - and numerous opportunities for professional development. For further information, go to: http://www.etwinning.net (O.L./transl.rt)