South West England reaches out to Romania

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Oct 2005

Graham Watson, the South West Lib Dem MEP and leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, has met Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and EU Affairs Minister during his visit to the country this week.

Today he will travel with Education Minister Mircea Miclea to Sibiu and from there to Buia, near Seica Mare to open the Rainbow Centre of Hope. This is a cultural centre funded by a group of constituents from Chard, Somerset. It will offer traditional dance classes, a lunch club, a homework club and other facilities.

Graham Watson said:

"My constituents have raised funds for this school in Seica Mare and the Rainbow Centre of Hope is their latest project. It is an excellent example of British and Romanian civil society coming together to help each other within the EU framework".