Spanish EU Presidency Begins at Midnight
December 31st, 2009
The last bell sounds at the clock from Puerta del Sol in Madrid and the traditional marking of the New Year in Spain is complete. This year though, there will be more – the facade of the Real Casa de Correos in Madrid will be illuminated in blue to represent the colour of the European flag of Europe and images of the most emblematic buildings of the European Union, the flags of member countries and their most representative icons will be displayed as the Spanish presidency of the EU begins.
The show will end with an Ode to Joy and a projection of the Spanish presidency logo, embossed with the letters ‘E’ and ‘U’ and painted in red and yellow to represent the national flag of Spain. The logo will be projected on the face of the Royal Palace and the Picasso Tower and this image will be shown at the Royal Palace every night until the 8th January and for the next six months in the Picasso Tower.
Many of the cities that will host EU meetings in Spain over the coming months will also illuminate their most famous buildings in blue. As will be the case for the aqueduct of Segovia, the Arch of Trajan in Merida, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña, Bellver Castle in Palma de Mallorca, Valencia Torres de Quart, the Torre Agbar in Barcelona, Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Monument to the Cortes in Cadiz and the Puerta de Alcala in Madrid.
Starting tomorrow, January 1st, welcome messages from the Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the permanent chairman of the EuropeanCouncil, Herman van Rompuy and President of Parliament, Jerzy Buzek will be seen on the Spanish Presidency website – http://www.eu2010.es
The official inauguration of the Spanish presidency will take place on the 8th of January, when Van Rompuy and the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, will travel to Madrid. In the afternoon, these and other VIPs, including the King, will attend a classical gala and flamenco dance at the Teatro Real in Madrid that will officially launch the Spanish presidency.
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