The Statue of Europe is a sculpture symbolising peace through European integration, while at the same time aiming to demonstrate the motto of the European Union (EU), "United in Diversity". It is located in the garden of Convent Van Maerlant in the crossroads of the Rue Van Maerlant/Van Maerlantsraat and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg, in the European Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. Made out of resin, the statue measures more than 5 m and weighs nearly 800 kg. It was inaugurated on 9 December 2003 by Neil Kinnock and Viviane Reding, who respectively were Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Culture at the time. 2003 was the European Year of People with Disabilities, and the Eastern enlargement of the EU was awaited.