Europe Day is celebrated: festive events will be held in the capital – Respublika.lt

During the commemoration, the Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, will deliver a congratulatory speech. The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, 1999-2004, will also speak at the solemn commemoration. Chairman of the EC Romanas Prodis, member of the EP, first chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Seimas Andrius Kubilius, chairman of the Ukrainian Integration Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and other guests of the commemoration.

Vilnius Street in the capital will be renamed Europa Street

After the official part of the commemoration in the Seimas is over, there will be no shortage of events in the capital itself. It was on Europe Day that one of the capital’s streets was chosen to be renamed – Vilniaus Street will temporarily become Europe Street.

The name plate of the European street will be unveiled especially for her. The ceremony will be attended by EC member Virginijus Sinkevičius, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, as well as a film about those born in 2004. May 1st “Karta.EU” director Eimantas Belickas.

On this day, residents and guests of the capital will also be invited to try their hand at the “European Exam”, to participate in a discussion about Erasmus+ international experience.

In the afternoon of the event, the percussion group “Ritmas sikke” will perform, and with the athletes of “Slackline Lietuva” a giant EU flag will be spread in the air, accompanied by the dancers of the dance studio “Gelios”.

The events of the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s EU membership and Europe Day will end with an open-air cinema. Vilnius residents will be able to watch the film “Karta.EU” created by the director E. Belick, and after it watch the live broadcast of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

ELTA reminds that the EU, which currently includes 27 states, was established by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force in 1993.

Lithuania submitted an official application for admission to the EU in 1995. Five years later, the country started negotiations for membership in the Community, which in 2002 ended at the EU Summit meeting held in Copenhagen.

In April 2003, Lithuania signed the Treaty of Accession to the EU in Athens. During the referendum held in the country in May, about 90 percent Lithuanian citizens who participated supported the country’s EU membership.

Lithuania became an official member of the EU in 2004. on the 1st of May. Together with Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Poland, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary were admitted to the Community.