Opening Ceremony, Bruges Campus

The opening ceremony of the seventy first academic year of the College of Europe took place in the Concert Hall (‘t Zand, Bruges) on Tuesday, 13 October 2020 at 19:30. 

Student musicians Ms Michalina KOWALA (violin) and Mr Thomas MAINGUY-SOURDIN (piano) played "One Moment in Time" - Whitney Houston. 






Mr Herman VAN ROMPUY, President of the Administrative Council of the College of Europe, presided over the ceremony:



Mr Dirk DE FAUW, Mayor of the city of Bruges, gave a welcome word. 



Film about our Patron Mário Soares prepared by the Mário Soares Foundation: 



Mrs Federica MOGHERINI, Rector of the College of Europe, presents "The College of Europe in 2020-2021" and recalled Mario Soares, Patron of the Promotion 2020-2021:



Ms Ewa OSNIECKA-TAMECKA, Vice-Rector of the College of Europe, conveyed from Natolin her greetings to the Bruges students of the Mário Soares Promotion:



Mr Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA, President of Portugal, delivered the opening address:



Mr António GUTERRES, Secretary General of the United Nations, delivered a video message:



Ms Sophia SEEBER, Student Representative of the Mário Soares Promotion deliverd a short message on behalf of the College of Europe students:

Rector Federica MOGHERINI formally opens the academic year 2020-2021: 

Full live production (TV quality) recording: 

Speeches

Speech by Rector Federica MOGHERINI
Speech by Vice-Rector Ewa OŚNIECKA-TAMECKA
Speech by President of the Administrative Council Herman VAN ROMPUY
Speech by Secretary-General of the United Nations António GUTERESS 

Photos of the event