Washington (d.C.)

Washington is the capital of the USA. It is situated in the District of Columbia. A special district, named after Christopher Columbus, was created for the American capital. The city was named so in the memory of George Washington, the first president of the USA. Washington is also called as ‘one-industry city’, because it is the home of the federal government.

The White House, where the US President lives and works, the Capitol, the home of the US Congress, and the Supreme Court, are all situated in Washington. The largest library of the USA, the Library of Congress, is also there. International organizations such as the Organsation of American States and the World Bank are in Washington too.

There are several universities in Washington; the oldest one is Georgetown University. It is private.

Washington has a subway and public buses but private cars are the most important means of transport.

№ 8: International Organisations in details

Europe day, 9 May

On 9 May 1950 the first move was made towards the creation of what is now known as the European Union. The French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman read to the international press a declaration calling France, Germany and other European countries to pool together their coal and steel production as "the first concrete foundation of a European federation". What he proposed was the creation of a supranational European Institution, charged with the management of the coal and steel industry, the very sector which was, at that time, the basis of all military power.

Everything, therefore, began that day. That is why during the Milan Summit of EU leaders in 1985 it was decided to celebrate 9 May as "Europe Day".

Today, the 9th of May has become a European symbol (Europe Day) which, along with the flag, the anthem, the motto and the single currency (the euro), identifies the political entity of the European Union. Europe Day is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and peoples of the Union closer to one another.

The European Flag

It is the symbol not only of the European Union but also of Europe's unity and identity in a wider sense. The circle of gold stars represents solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe.

The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of Member States. There are twelve stars because the number twelve is traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity. The flag therefore remains unchanged regardless of the EU enlargements.

The anthem of the European Union

The melody comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven. In 1985, it was adopted by the EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the European Union. In 1972, the Council of Europe (the same body that designed the European flag) adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its own anthem. The well-known conductor Herbert Von Karajan was asked to write three instrumental arrangements - for solo piano, for wind instruments and for symphony orchestra. Without words, in the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity for which Europe stands.