“We count on you to bring
Kosovo to this club of countries that agreed to do things
together”
Students at the elementary
in Raushiq near Peja/Pec greeted Khaldoun Sinno, Head of the
Political, Economic and European Integration Section
at the European Commission Liaison Office, with flowers
and the full classroom was eager to learn more about the EU.
Mr. Sinno was impressed with the warm welcome and the
advanced level of English of the young students – the
accompanying interpreter was hardly needed.
Mr Sinno talked the
students through the creation of the EU after the Second
World War. How six countries formed this club of countries
which would from then on work together and solve conflicts
through coordination and cooperation.
As a real life example, Mr
Sinno described his own European identity and background: He
was born in Germany, studied in the UK, Belgium and France,
is married to a Hungarian and his children are half German,
half Hungarian.
Almost all hands went up
when Mr Sinno asked the students if they wanted to go to
university. He explained that the European Union is helping
students to study in other countries and how this can open
your mind in order to work with your neighbors for a common
future. He called on the students to make their
contribution to the European integration process: “We count
on you. You are the future, you will bring Kosovo to the EU.”
He explained that the EU is and will be there to help them.
There was a true European
integration spirit in the air this morning in the village
Raushiq - despite the fact that most students told Mr Sinno
that they would not cheer for a European team but for Brazil
in the upcoming football World Cup.