Logo competition for EU's '50th birthday'

A logo competition, Happy Birthday EU, has been launched by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Students of art, graphic design, communication design, visual communication, media design or related disciplines from the 25 member states, Bulgaria and Romania, as well as design professionals who graduated from college or university this year, are invited to design a birthday logo that will be the official symbol for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome next year. The closing date for the competition is September 30.

The best logo will earn €6,000 for its designer, the second best €4,000, and the third €2,000. The three awarded designers will be invited to a prize ceremony in Brussels in autumn.

Besides a logo, participants may also create a slogan about European integration. The logo must refer to the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and reflect the EU's achievements, such as peace and prosperity, and its future - the kind of EU they want for future generations.

The Commission and all other European Institutions will use the winning logo for all events related to the 50th anniversary next year.

Member states, regional and local authorities will also be invited to use the logo for their particular events.

The selection of the winning logo will be made by a jury consisting of representatives from the five institutions and co-chaired by Commission vice president Margot Wallstrom and European Parliament vice president Alejo Vidal-Quadras.

Ms Zammit is in Brussels courtesy of the Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.