Culture is taking centre stage in many of the activities scheduled for the “Europe Day” (9 May) celebrations being held under the Spanish Presidency of the EU, with the festivities even extending to the World Expo in Shanghai, where the EU Youth Orchestra will give a performance, conducted by Spain's Inma Shara.
Culture is taking centre stage in many of the activities scheduled for the “Europe Day” (9 May) celebrations being held under the Spanish Presidency of the EU, with the festivities even extending to the World Expo in Shanghai, where the EU Youth Orchestra will give a performance, conducted by Spain's Inma Shara.
“This is the first time that the European nations have got together to celebrate this day outside Europe”, said the Vice President of the European Commission, Luxembourg's Viviane Reding, who pointed out that the festivities today will also serve to celebrate the 35 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and China.
The European festivities in Shanghai will also include a parade of more than 500 artists from 23 countries (including Spain, which will be represented by a folkloric group from Valencia), as well as rap and pop concerts by various artists, such as France's Olivia Ruiz and Peter von Poehl, from Germany.
The EU Youth Orchestra, meanwhile, will provide a journey through great moments in European music, from Beethoven's “Ninth Symphony” to the “New World Symphony” by Dvorak, and also including some arrangements with a markedly Spanish tone, such as the “Concerto of Aranjuez” by the maestro Joaquín Rodrigo.
Madrid, more European than ever
Madrid is more European than ever today, with the Spanish capital becoming the first EU city to permanently hoist the blue flag with the 12 gold stars of the EU.
This act, given special significance on “Europe Day”, was overseen by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, and the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, and was also attended by other representatives from Spanish and European institutions.
“The European Union is a tool for ensuring a better quality of life for the women and men who live in it, and for humanity as a whole”, said Moratinos, highlighting the European values of peace, freedom, democracy, pluralism, equality and solidarity. Messages sent by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, and the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, were also read out during the ceremony.
The ceremony took place at the San Vicente roundabout, where the EU flag was permanently raised at midday, following a short musical introduction by the Classical Music Orchestra, made up of students from the British School, the German School and the Lycée Français.
The day will be brought to a close with a performance by the group Delafé y las flores azules and with the cultural event “Europe in the World of Lavapiés”, which is scheduled to be held in the popular Madrid neighbourhood of the same name. This activity, which is open to all, is being backed by EUNIC España, the network of European cultural institutions in Spain.