
The European Commission is inviting young people from EU member states to join the newly launched European Music Contest.
Contestants aged between 15 and 25 have until September 30 to submit an original song on the global fight against poverty, specifically on the eight Millennium Development Goals.
“Music is a powerful tool to mobilize people from all ages and all countries on the fight against poverty. I’m looking forward to many contributions from rap, hip-hop to hard rock,” said European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs.
Two winners will be announced in November. One will be selected through online voting, which will end on October 31, and the other by a jury.
Winners will receive a professional studio recording of their songs and perform at the European Development Days forum in December, 2010 in Brussels. EDD is organized by the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The music contest is part of the “I fight poverty campaign” that seeks to increase youth awareness on the EU’s efforts on international development cooperation.