Brussels, 06/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Europe Day, 9 May, the 61st anniversary of the declaration by Robert Schuman which is considered as the starting point for European integration, will be celebrated in Brussels with open days at the European institutions, on Saturday 7 May, and in many other European cities. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso notes in a statement the successes of integration despite the periods of crisis of which all are aware. The highlight will be in Florence with its Festival of Europe, from 6 to 10 May, an unprecedented event, which will be attended by the presidents of the Commission and European Parliament, Barroso and Jerzy Buzek, Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani and Culture and Youth Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, the chairman of the European Parliament constitutional affairs committee Carlo Casini, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and many other personalities. Events will be coordinated by the European University Institute (EUI), Florence. According to information provided by the organisers, the biggest event of the Festival will be the “State of the Union” conference, an international symposium which will take place at the Palazzo Vecchio on 9-10 May, where stock will be taken of the international situation and the main EU policies. Institutional and cultural events, linking in with the Florence May Music Festival will be held on the Piazza Signoria, a site of huge historic importance, and the Palazzo Vecchio, which, for the duration of the festival, will become Europe Square, the whole city being garlanded in blue and yellow, the colours of the EU. On Europe Square three pavilions will be erected: Europe, Nations and Youth. The first is set up by the Commission and Parliament representations in Italy and by the Italian Ministry of Community Politics; the second by 10 EU member states which associated themselves with the initiative; and the third by the Commission in Brussels. (Gp/transl.rt)