Speech by Mr. Íñigo Méndez de Vigo
Speech by the Rector Mr. Paul Demaret
The opening ceremony of the sixtieth academic year of the College of Europe took place on Wednesday 4 November 2009 in the Concert Hall ('t Zand).
Mr Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, delivered the opening address.
Mr Paul Demaret, Rector of the College of Europe, recalled Charles Darwin, Patron of the Promotion 2009-2010.
Mr Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Administrative Council of the College of Europe, presided over the ceremony. He was accompagnied by Mr Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Administrative Council of the College of Europe.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Mr Yves Leterme, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mrs Odile Quintin, the European Commission's Director-General of Education, Training, Culture and Youth and of a large number of Ambassadors and Diplomats.