A group of students from Ribeira Grande Secondary School on São Miguel Island started today a field trip in Brussels where they will deepen their knowledge on the European Union. The initiative is promoted by the Government of the Azores.

The winning team of the contest held under the celebrations of the Europe Day celebrations consists of students Maria Raposo, Nuno Rebelo and Pedro Gaipo, who will be accompanied by teacher Ana Almeida. They will have the opportunity to visit various EU institutions and bodies, the Committee of Regions, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission as well as other emblematic places of the Belgian capital.

The members of "Os Ilhéus" team from Ribeira Grande Secondary School visited today the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), currently chaired by the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, and the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union (REPER), where they were received by the Regional Councillor of the Azores, João Lança.

Promoted by the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, the celebrations of Europe Day took place this year on Santa Maria with the participation of teams from all islands the archipelago, selected through the contest "Youth and the Future Europe." The latter was won by "Os Ilhéus" team.

The field trip to Brussels aims to complement the study and the information acquired by students at school and in the context of the contests promoted by the Regional Government. It provides a direct knowledge of the places and the most important institutions in Brussels, thus promoting the sense of belonging and the participation of Azorean youngsters in the European Union.