The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security is organising a new competition “European Union and citizenship” all over the 27 Member States.

Participants must individually create a one-page cartoon with no text, illustrating the theme of citizenship in the European Union.

The competition is mainly geared towards students of (graphic) arts, aged 16 years or over, residing in the 27 Member States of the European Union.

However, it is also open to any other person aged 16 years or over who is resident in the European Union and is interested in graphic arts and inspired by the subject of the competition.

After a first selection at national level and an awards ceremony organised in each Member State on Friday 3 April 2009, 27 national winners will be invited to Brussels from 9 to 11 May 2009 to visit the European institutions and the city of Brussels.

Mr Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security will meet the winners at a European ceremony, during which the three European winners and their ranking will be announced.

The winner of the first European prize will receive a cheque of € 6,000, the second a cheque of € 4,000 and the third a cheque of € 2,000.

Further information on the competition may be found at www.eurocarton.eu.

Deadline is 7 March 2009.