For over 50 years, the European venture has provided Europeans with an area of peace, stability and security and has helped raise their living standards by creating a single market and single currency.

Yet, Europe is much more than that. Today, the European Union of nearly 500 million people tackles subjects which affect us in our everyday lives, subjects such as citizens’ rights, job creation, regional development, environmental protection and the fight against global warming.

When it was set up, the European Union was comprised of just six countries. Now, 27 countries are united in diversity and work together every day in a spirit of solidarity, curiosity, tolerance, creativity and innovation.

We all know that an image can express a thousand words. The members of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions therefore invite you to express everything good that Europe has brought you in your everyday life, as seen through your lens.

THE COMPETITION

• Theme of the competition:

“Europe in my everyday life”

• Deadline for submission:

Entries may be submitted from 12 February until 31 May 2009 inclusive

• Who can enter:

The competition is for young Europeans aged 18 to 30.

Entrants should be resident in one of the 27 EU Member States.

The competition is only open to amateur photographers. Professional photographers and anyone else working in the field of photography will be automatically excluded from the competition.

• How to enter:

To apply, just fill in the form available here.

Only one application is permitted per person.

Photos should be uploaded on to the PES Group website in JPEG format (up to a maximum of 5 MB) and printable in 20cm x 30cm format at a minimum of 300 dpi.

Before applying, please read carefully the competition rules of the competition, as you will be asked to indicate if you agree to the terms and conditions of the competition in order to take part.

The complete rules are available in all EU languagues here: [PDF: BG - CS - DA - DE - EL - EN - ES - ET - FI - FR - HU - IT - LT - LV - MT - NL - PL - PT - RO - SK - SL - SV].

• Selection process:

The jury will select the winning photographs on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Interpretation and compliance with the theme of the competition: “Europe in my everyday life”

2. Impact and clarity of the message;

3. Originality and creativity;

4. Technique and composition.

• One of the winning photos of the competition organised in 2008 under the theme of intercultural dialogue in the EU.

  The prizes:

The following prizes will be awarded to the 6 best participants:

1st prize:
A semi-professional “full format” digital “DSLR” photographic kit worth approximately 3 500 €, comprising a reflex camera (”24×36″ sensor), single lens, external flash, memory card and camera bag.

2nd and 3rd prizes:
A digital “DSLR” photographic kit worth approximately 1 500 €, comprising a camera (”APS-C” sensor), single lens, external flash, memory card and camera bag.

4th to 6th prizes:
A photo-quality A3+ format printer worth approximately 500 €.

In addition to the prizes, winners will be invited to Brussels in September 2009 to attend a conference on “the added value of the EU in the life of its citizens”. Winning photos will also be displayed as an exhibition in the headquarters of the Committee of the Regions.

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2009: European Year
of Creativity and Innovation

The European Year 2009 encompasses a wide spectrum of themes, aiming to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development.

The originality of the European Year 2009 lies in the variety of the themes addressed – from cultural diversity, education, health and social services, to the knowledge society, sustainable development and creative arts and industries. This allows for the involvement of a great many actors across the EU, thus encouraging the dissemination of good practices and promoting policy debate and development.

For more information, visit create2009.europa.eu.