A message from Commissioner David Wilkinson

This weekend we hit a new visitor record as no less than 9,620 visitors flocked to our pavilion over Saturday and Sunday. Visitor attendance is picking up again in a big way and we expect massively renewed interest in our Pavilion when the Italian schools come back to visit Expo as of next week.

On the VIP front, on 4 October, we had the visit of Vice President Šefčovič to Expo. In a joint press conference with the Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano, the Vice President was very positive about our Pavilion and thanked the Joint Research Centre for its commitment in making the EU participation a success.

On 5 and 6 October, Commissioner Stylianides visited our Pavilion to inaugurate the ECHO-Oxfam Photo Exhibition. As Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, he took part in several events and campaigns in support of refugees, where he made the connection to the current crisis.

Now the busy period for the last months of Expo has started. Agri Week is on, and our colleagues of the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development have come in force from Brussels. Dedicated events and seminars will take place throughout the week.

On Tuesday, 8th September, a meeting was held in Brussels of the Scientific Steering Committee to plan the culmination of the Expo scientific programme which is to take place on 15 October.  The final event is intended to present answers to the questions that have arisen during Expo, and to present a recommendation document that sets the scene for actions to be taken after Expo has come to an end. This will ensure a long-term legacy from the Expo.