This

is the BELL.

It belongs

to the President

of the European

Commission.

It has been

ringing

for generations

of presidents.

Just 2500 times.

It is just

11 centimeters tall

and

5 centimeters wide.

But

don't be fooled!

This bell

is actually

a powerful instrument.

As,

he or she,

who holds

its handle,

bears the important

responsibility

to chair

the College

of Commissioners.

Silence please!

Their weekly meeting

is about

to start.

Commissioners

are sitting here,

in this

big room.

There are

27 of them

one per

EU country,

each of them

in charge of

a specific portfolio.

When the bell

rings,

they start

presenting

proposals

for future

European laws.

Whatever is

eventually proposed

has a chance

to become later

Erasmus,

Galileo,

or the Euro.

All of

these initiatives

that changed

the course

of Europe

were first born

after the cheery

tinkle of

this bell!

Not bad

for just

a little bell!