Last November, four European Commissioners showed off their cooking skills to the public and gave a European accent to the rich Flemish gastronomic culture. Within the context of the Belgian EU presidency Karel De Gucht, Neelie Kroes, Janez Potocnik and Antonio Tajani were invited by the organization of “Week of the Taste” and the Flemish authorities for the action “The Commissioner cooks”. This unique culinary action focuses on Europe’s cultural diversity and is one of the initiatives of an extensive communication campaign to bring Flanders and Europe closer together.A tasty programme
Janez Potočnik (Slovenia, Commissioner for Environment) was the first guest chef: on November 16 he prepared a biological menu with season’s vegetables, together with the famous chef Frank Fol at the Grom vegetable museum in the Flemish town of Sint-Kathelijne-Waver.
The next day, Antonio Tajani (Italy, Vice-President and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship) proved his culinary talent at the Italian Embassy in Brussels, assisted by two Italian chefs.
On November 18, Karel De Gucht (Belgium, Commissioner for Trade) and Neelie Kroes (The Netherlands, Vice-President and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda) brought their two neighboring countries together in one dish. Their cooking session at the Dutch Embassy in Brussels was assisted by the Belgo-Dutch Roger van Damme, Gault Millau’s Chief of the Year 2009.
Flanders shines in Europe
The Belgian EU Presidency gives Flanders an excellent opportunity to celebrate Europe and to bring Flanders and the EU closer together. During the Belgian EU Presidency, Flanders will take on several institutional responsibilities, e.g. chairing the Council configurations of Education, Youth, Sport, Environment and Fisheries. The Flemish authorities also organize and lend their support to all kinds of EU Presidency celebrations and activities.
Activities such as ‘the Commissioner cooks’ are part of a campaign towards Flemings and international audiences, under the slogan Flanders shines in Europe, Europe shines in Flanders. Flanders encourages its citizens to discover the European Union by means of editorials in the Flemish media, a series of summer EU concerts and a large number of socio-cultural events. It also encourages European citizens to get to know Flanders, in close cooperation with different partners, such as “Week of the Taste” (www.weekvandesmaak.be).
Activities such as ‘the Commissioner cooks’ are part of a campaign towards Flemings and international audiences, under the slogan Flanders shines in Europe, Europe shines in Flanders. Flanders encourages its citizens to discover the European Union by means of editorials in the Flemish media, a series of summer EU concerts and a large number of socio-cultural events. It also encourages European citizens to get to know Flanders, in close cooperation with different partners, such as “Week of the Taste” (www.weekvandesmaak.be).
For more information, please visit www.flandersshines.eu and www.weekvandesmaak.be
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