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Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 12:18 GMT 13:18 UK

Pole wins EU birthday logo prize

logo A Polish student has won a competition to design a logo for the EU's 50th birthday celebrations next year.

Szymon Skrzypczak, 26, made his design using the words in English "Together since 1957".

The competition was entered by 1,700 students, who tried to "encapsulate the idea of European co-operation... and the future of Europe in particular".

The winner was named amid reports that the EU is scaling back celebration plans, fearing public ridicule.

No dancing

DROPPED BIRTHDAY IDEAS


A mooted Eurovision-style singing competition, and plans for EU-wide dancing in the street and an EU marathon have been dropped, according to the EUobserver website.

The focus will now be on youth events, including an idea suggested by the UK, known as United Schools of Europe, which would link schools across the EU via the web.

Mr Skrzypczak made the word "Together" using different typefaces and different accents used in European languages.

The sub-line "Since 1957" refers to the signing of the Treaty of Rome in that year.

Irony

"This logo gives a graphic interpretation to the voice of all Europeans, especially the new generations," says the competition website.

"These Europeans look for peace, stability and prosperity without taking anything away from their rights of individuality and diversity."

It adds: "The word 'together' expresses in a simple and immediate way what was originally bound to the idea of Europe: not only politics, or money, or geographic boundaries, but most of all co-operation and solidarity."

It also praises the irony "inspired by fashion labels".

Mr Skrzypczak, currently a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan, wins a prize of 6,000 euros (£4,000).



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RELATED INTERNET LINKS
EU birthday logo competition
EUobserver.com
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