On Tuesday 13 October 2020, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo DE SOUSA visited the College of Europe Bruges Campus. His Excellency inaugurated an exhibition on this academic year's Patron Mário Soares in the foyer room of the Paul-Henri Spaak Building (Dijver site) and later delivered the keynote speech during the Opening Ceremony 2020-2021 at the Concert Hall of the city of Bruges.
The Presidential visit to the College received the necessary attention and press coverage in Portugal, including a national television news item featuring Mr Pedro LOURTIE, Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union and a member of the official delegation of Mr Marcelo Rebelo DE SOUSA.
Mr Pedro LOURTIE is a College alumnus of the Stefan Zweig Promotion 1993-1994. The former student of the European Economic Studies department mentions his experience as a CoE alumnus: "It was one of the most formative years of my life, something that I think applies to every College of Europe student. Every promotion remembers their patron and, in this case, it is a great way of celebrating Mário Soares' legacy as someone who always fought for democracy, freedom and the European ideals." Watch the video fragment below:
The opening address of Mr Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA, President of Portugal:
Photo album of the Presidential visit to the College of Europe Bruges Campus:
