She may have sung about Kids In America, but Kim Wilde is a favourite with the Europeans. The Eighties star, now 46 and working as a gardener, has been invited to lead celebrations for the European Union’s 50th birthday by appearing at a party in Belgium.
She will perform on Saturday alongside Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, who was an MEP in the Nineties. One of the numbers Kim – the face of Holland & Barrett health food – is due to sing is Together We Belong. “It’s an appropriate title,” said her agent Nick Boyles. “We are not being paid and she’s delighted to be participating.”
The EU is spending £1 million on an all-night rave in Berlin, also on Saturday, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
Other events being held across Europe are rather more low-key.
While Bulgaria, Finland, Slovakia and Sweden will hold conferences, the Danes will mark the occasion with free buns. Estonians are planting trees while Czechs can run a half-marathon and Luxembourg citizens will be treated to an 8km circular EU walk.
In Ireland and the Netherlands, special prayers will be said in churches and Slovenes will see a parachute jump. In Madrid students will build a giant puzzle of the 27 member countries and Malta is putting on fireworks.
The French made a TV movie called Nous Nous Sommes Tant Haïs (How We Hated Each Other). The love story about a Parisian barmaid and a former German officer has been accused of being a heavyhanded allegory for unification.
The UK’s contribution was last week’s football match between Manchester United and the Europe XI – United won 4-3.