Boosting Creativity and Innovation in Europe: Official launch of the European Year 2009 in Prague

The Czech Presidency of the EU and European Commission launched the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 on 7 January, 2009, with the slogan 'Imagine. Create. Innovate'. The Year was inaugurated during a ceremony in Prague by the Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. At the accompanying launch conference, the Ambassadors for the Year presented a report on creativity and innovation in the EU, whose message is that investment in education and in the skills and creative capacity of Europe should be the top priority of EU institutions and governments.