A revolutionary idea envisioned by French Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950, to inseparably connect the economies of once warring European countries in order to establish a lasting peace, stability, and security, by placing the coal and steel production under a common High Authority, led to the European Union as we know it. This is the reason why this particular date is celebrated as Europe Day, not only in the EU, but throughout the world as well.
As in years before, the EU Delegation to Serbia and EU Info Centre, along with other partners, have prepared the Open Europe programme to mark the 9 May, Europe Day, that will, apart from Belgrade, take place in Novi Sad, Niš, Subotica, Zrenjanin and other cities throughout Serbia. In addition to comic/strip art exhibition and Europe Film Festival, forums and debates will be held concerning various aspects of Serbia’s EU accession process, while top EU Delegation officials will meet and talsk with citizens, civil society and youth representatives.
The programme started on Wednesday 7 May with a seminar titled “Ten Years in the EU: Lithuania‘s Integration Achievements, Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead.” Ten years of the biggest EU enlargement, the time when 10 new Central and Eastern European countries joined the the EU block; Lithuanian accession experience and the first ten EU membership years were discussed by, aside from others, this country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time when Lithuania joined the EU Ambassador Antanas Valionis, and the Director of European Affairs Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tomas Gulbinas.
The same day, Zrenjanin hosts the traditional manifestation European village, the project that gathers primary schools of the Zrenjanin municipality, with the aim of promoting the diversity of people and states upon which the modern Europe is built. Aside from the EU Delegation to Serbia’s representatives, this manifestation was to be attended by a number of EU Member States’ Ambassadors.
The Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration (FEFA) traditionally organises EU-Serbia relations themed scientific conference. This year, the conference is held on 8 May and is dedicated to the improvement of the Serbia’s image during accession talks, raising the question of whether lobbying is helpful. Among others, participants in the conference are Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport, Minister in charge with European integration Jadranka Joksimović, as well as lobbying experts from Serbia, Brussels, and EU Member States.
The same day sees the opening of the exhibition of the most successful works submitted within the “Myths and Prejudices – How Serbia and EU View Each Other” competition, organised for the second year in a row by the EU Delegation to Serbia and the EU Info Centre. Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport will open the exhibition, announce the winners and present the awards.
On the very Day of Europe, 9 May, “On the Right Track” debate will be held, symbolically in the restaurant named Balkan ekspres, organised by European Movement in Serbia. The “Myths and Prejudices” comic/strip art exhibition will be set in the Stadion Shopping Mall (9-18 May), for all those living closer to this shopping mall than to the city centre.
“The In-Between-Land: Ten Years of the Biggest EU Enlargement” is the motto of this year’s Europe Film Festival, which takes place in Dom omladine Beograda starting from 16 May. During seven days of the Festival, a total of 30 feature and documentary films hailing from 22 EU Member States and Serbia will be shown, including the Oscar-winning foreign language film The Great Beauty (“La grande bellezza”), 2013 Cannes Golden Palm winner Blue Is the Warmest Colour, and BAFTA winner Philomena. After the Festival is over in Belgrade, a selection of films will be shown in Novi Sad, Leskovac, Kragujevac, Čačak, Surdulica, Užice, Vršac and Niš.
As in previous years, Europe Day is not celebrated in Belgrade only. This year, Subotica is also a part of the celebration, where the comic/strip art exhibition opens on 16 May, and where the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport will meet youth and civil society representatives. On the same day, SM Palić 2014, an international scientific conference about strategic management will be held, organised by the Faculty of Economics in Subotica.
On Thursday 22 May, the National Assembly of Serbia is the venue of a simulated debate, in which eight of the best participants of the Spring Debate School workshop, organised by the EU Info Centre in cooperation with the Open Communication organisation and BEUM student association, will have an opportunity to showcase their debating skills acquired during the workshop.
Last, but certainly not least, is the EU Open Door Days manifestation, taking place in May and June, when EU Member States’ Embassies open their doors to visitors, so as to bring them closer to the countries they represent. Groups of students and high school pupils will have an opportunity to visit the French Embassy on the very Day of Europe, 9 May, followed by the embassies of the Netherlands, Greece and Croatia on 12, 14 and 22 May, respectively. Embassy of Hungary will be open to visitors on 28, while Bulgarian Embassy hosts students on 29 May. The Embassy of Belgium hosts students on 5 June, followed by the embassies of Finland 10 June, Poland 12 June, and Austria 17 June.
