On Thursday 9 May, Bangor University, along with many establishments across the UK and Europe, celebrated Europe Day with a number of events and activities.

The European Union celebrates this day to mark the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, considered to be the first official step in the creation of the European Union as it is today.

Ever since structural funds started supporting the Welsh economy to the tune of over £600m per year, Bangor University has been amongst the most successful UK education institutions in attracting monies to North Wales for a whole host of purposes, including projects such as the Menai Science Park on Anglesey, Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre in Bangor, and the Centre for Applied Marine Sciences in Menai Bridge.

Bangor University has also benefited from winning research monies under the EU Horizon 2020 funding programme, and leads the flagship Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS) project for eight Welsh universities. This project helps students undertake a PhD or Research Masters within organisations and businesses, the majority of which are based in the region. Now in its second phase, KESS has attracted over £70m grant funding to the Welsh higher education sector to date and this round is expected to deliver a total of 645 PhD and Masters projects.

The EU Flag was raised on the flag pole above the university tower as usual, but this year, James Wilson of Bangor Mussel Producers, one of Bangor University’s industrial partners on joint EU projects with the School of Ocean Sciences, sailed his company’s mussel boat, Mare Gratia, from Port Penrhyn Docks at 12.00pm to the Marine Centre Wales in Menai Bridge where light refreshments were served to the passengers. The boat was flying the EU flag during its journey there.

Photo: