Saturday - Opening Ceremony

The 12th European Guide Conference has begun! 

The leading volunteers from National Guide and Scout Associations across Europe have celebrated the opening of the 12^th European Guide and Scout Conference, taking place from 5 to 11 May in Portoroz, Slovenia.  
                                     
 











Over 600 delegates, guests and local Guides and Scouts were invited by Mr Tomasa Gantarja, the Mayor of Piran to celebrate their opening ceremony in Tartini Square, a short walk from the Conference venue.  Fire-eaters and acrobats gave the ceremony a festive feel – reflecting the first part of the Conference theme “Celebrate, Motivate, Activate.” 

In a speech by the Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa, the delegates were invited to celebrate the contribution Guiding and Scouting continues to make the lives of young people across Europe, and the communities in which they live. 


There was also a short address by Karel Bartak, Head of the Youth Policy Unit of the European Commission. He brought greetings from Jan Figel’ the European Commissioner responsible for youth issues and also spoke of the social and economic policies the European Commission is implementing to improve the lives of young people, and the contribution which the Scout and Guide Movement is making to the this process.  

The climax of the opening ceremony was the lighting of the flame by Diane Dixon, Chairman of the Europe Committee WAGGGS, and Lidija Poziac Frketic, Chair of the European Scout Committee.

In her speech formally opening the conference, Diane told the delegates: