Brussels, 24/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Union Pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover (Germany) will be opened on 1 June by Commissioner Viviane Reding. Located at the top of Europa Boulevard, the Pavilion expects to welcome over 1 million visitors between 1 June and 31 October. It will be a place of cultural activities as well as a forum for discussion on the challenges facing Europe and the world. The EU area will thus provide an opportunity for "Meeting Europe".
Devoted to "Humankind, Nature and Technology", the World Exhibition of Hanover, the first to be held in Germany, will allow the EU to demonstrate the long experience it has acquired in areas such as the environment, research, transport, energy, education and culture. The overall budget of the Community participation at the Expo 2000 amounts to EUR 16 million, the largest EU participation ever. The presidents of the EU institutions will attend Europe Day on 24 September.