(IsraelNN.com) Israel and Europe celebrated their respective milestones on Monday in the "European Village" in Rishon LeTzion, Israel's 4th-largest city.

The double celebration commemorated Israel's 60th anniversary and Europe Day, the 58th anniversary of the 1950 Schuman Declaration that led to the creation of the European Union. 

Among the visitors at the 'European Village' in Rishon LeTzion were Foreign Ministers Tzipi Livni, Education Minister Yuli Tamir, and the President of Slovenia, Danilo Tuerk.  In addition, the European Union saluted Israel's 60th birthday independence with a festive Europe Day concert with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv.

The "European Village" was created by 29 Rishon LeTzion junior high school classes. Each class adopted one of the 27 member states of the European Union and displayed its culture by means of giant models, including a Dutch windmill, a Portugese fishing boat, an Irish pub and the like. Two additional stands were devoted to the State of Israel and to the European Union.

The "European Village" is a joint initiative of the Ambassador of Slovenia to Israel, Boris Sovi, and the Rishon LeTzion municipality. It was produced in close cooperation with all EU Member State embassies, the EU Commission Delegation and Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Also Monday, a festive Europe Day concert in Tel Aviv launched the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's (IPO) Independence Festival series. The IPO played a 'European Kaleidoscope' consisting of works by leading European composers, following a formal Europe Day reception hosted by the EU Commission's ambassador to the State of Israel, Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal.

Cibrian-Uzal, who also heads the delegation of the EU Commission to the State of Israel, offered his "warm congratulations on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence. This year's joint celebrations reflect the fact that the European Union and Israel are now experiencing one of the most intense and fruitful periods in the long history of their cooperation, and are now jointly reflecting on how to further upgrade relations to a special status. It is my greatest wish that in this 60th year of Israel's independence, Israelis will be able to exercise their right and realize their dreams of a much more peaceful and secure future."

Two Major Book Fairs
Also in honor of Israel's 60th birthday, two of Europe's largest book fairs this year. honored Israel as their "guest of honor." Dozens of Israeli authors were invited to France and Italy for the fairs, each of which regularly draws more than 200,000 people. The fairs featured displays and activities about Hebrew literature and the culture of the Jewish State.