“Happy Birthday EU”. This is the motto for a logo competition launched by the Commission, the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Art and design students, and design professionals who have graduated in 2006, 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 Commission and all other European Institutions will use the winning logo for all events during 2007 related to the 50th anniversary.

The Member States, regional and local authorities will be invited to use the logo for their particular events. The closing date for the competition is 30 September 2006. 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 Wallström and Vice-President of the European Parliament Alejo Vidal-Quadras. The award for the best logo is  6000 €. There will also be awards for the second and the third best logos, 4000 € and 2000  € respectively. The three awarded designers will be invited to a prize ceremony in Brussels in the autumn.

Commenting on the launch of the competition, Vice-President Margot Wallström said: “50 years of peaceful co - operation and growing prosperity and security in Europe is really something to celebrate. It is also an excellent occasion to discuss what we expect from the EU in the future, for our children and generations to come. The EU means different things to different Member States, communities, citizens and age groups. This is why the focus of celebrations should be on the activities where as many people as possible can participate.”

On 25 March 2007 the European Union will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome - the origin of the European integration process. For this occasion, the European Union invites you: students of art and related disciplines and young design professionals to take part in the competition and design a logo. 

Registration will be on the website. Sending logo by 30 September 2006 (postmark) and be the creator of the official EU birthday logo which will be used for all European Union events related to this round anniversary.

Competition rules and the background information will soon be available in all languages of the EU member states as well as Bulgarian and Romanian.