French elections threat to Europe's future
A new museum of European history opens to the public on 6 May, a day before Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron play their final duel in the second round of the French presidential election.
The aim of the House of European History is to encourage citizens to reflect upon and to debate the history of Europe and of European integration.
Exhibits in the museum's permanent exhibition have been brought together from around 300 museums and collections from across Europe and beyond.
They are expected to be a special attraction to young people from all over Europe and beyond.
Unfortunately, it is Europe's youth whose European future is most threatened by Sunday's French presidential vote, as it has been by the Brexit referendum and the Trump victory
French voters now have to decide between Le Pen's politics of fear and hate and Macron's vision of France at the heart of Europe.
Former EP President Hans-Gert Poettering, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the HEH said "The House of European History is intended to help citizens to step into the future wisely and with confidence."
It is to be hoped that this future will, after Sunday's election, look a little less troubled and full of threats.