This practice is part of the project: Euro Days in Sliven 2004 Tradition with Future initiated by the Directorate International Cooperation and European Integration of the Municipality of Sliven on the occasion of the competition of the Delegation of the European Commission in Bulgaria for celebrating the Day of Europe. Partners on the project were Community Center Christo Botev village of Biala, Community Center Iury Gagarun village of Novachevo, Youth Center city of Sliven, Regional Library Sava Dobroplodni - City of Sliven, Youth Center for Regional Development, Regional Inspectorate of the MES(Ministry of Education and Science).

The program for the celebration of the Day of Europe by the Municipality of Sliven under the motto Euro Days in Sliven 2004 Tradition with Future included a complex of events information and cultural events and celebrations.

The program was divided in three parts each one under its own motto. The project was supposed to start in the villages of Biala and Novachevo under the motto The Bulgarian village European initiatives and challenges. In its second part the program continued in the city of Sliven under the motto Euro Days in Sliven 2004 Tradition with Future. The final part was carried out in villages of Biala, Novachevo, Seliminovo, Gavrailovo, Jelio voivoda, Krushare, Samuilovo, Blatetz, Glufishevo and Nikolaevo under the motto One Europe Many Cultures.

The main accents of this year s events were the identification of the local partners and main problems on local level related to the preparation for EU membership, exchange of ideas and successful practices, introduction to the European programs in different domains, discussion about the challenges and priorities of the membership with the EU.

A great number of people attended the information meetings like "Programs of the EU in the domain of health and social activities" and "The European Union and Eurointegration attractive and topical themes for the students of the primary and secondary school", the debates "Indispensable investments for the protection of the environment - refuse waters", "The local partnerships for successful integration in United Europe", the seminars "The role of the local authorities in the process of eurointegration" and "Journalists for the European Union", as well as the presentation "Sliven European perspectives for implementation of running projects on European programs".

In a special meeting were presented programs of the EU about the education. The program Manager for one day provoked great interest. The initiative supports the students education through practice and encouraging the positive relation between business, education and society. "Manager for one day" is a unique opportunity for the students to be part of the daily work process of professionals. For their hosts this was a day when they passed on their knowledge and left a mark in the future choice of the young contractors.

An interesting event was the meeting of young representatives of the two projects Day of Elhovo Elhovo and Sliven, which was attended by a lot of participants, among who was the chairman of the Regional Association of Municipalities Trakia , Ivan Varlyakov, PhD, representatives of the municipal administration in Sliven and Elhovo. On this meeting to the young people were presented the most important moments in the history of United Europe, the symbols of the European Union, the priorities and challenges coming from the membership with the EU. A multimedia presentation was shown, the film European Union , the quiz What do we know about the European Union , which provoked great interest and increased the activity of the young people in the next discussion.

Another interesting event for the young people was the presentation of the book, website and CD "Europe in my native Sliven", created on a project of the Youth Center Sliven, financed by Program Youth of the EU. The multimedia presentation was printed and delivered to the school and the Community Center Libraries in the Municipality of Sliven.

In addition to the rich information and the cultural program were the attractive cycle race for children on the theme Do we know Europe? , the children sport competition "To the sport tops of Europe", organized by the Central Nursery School Detstvo and kindergarten Edelvais, theatre plays, the long drawing with the motto Hello Europe! and the football competition under the motto "2004 - an year of education through sport in EU".

Through diverse information and cultural events in Municipality of Sliven the information stock of the local communities about the European Union was highly increased, as well as the information about the practical status of a future membership of Bulgaria with the EU. Conditions for the spread and access to information about the EU funding opportunities were crated.

The day of Europe became tradition for the whole Municipality, giving the opportunity of participation to every citizen, the local business, local institutions and organizations city-halls, Community Centers, schools, as well as representatives of the cities and municipalities in fellowship with the Municipality of Sliven.