IP/04/559
Brussels, 29 April 2004
European Union Enlargement Day Celebrations
On 1 May 2004, large parts of Eastern and Western Europe will be united in
peace and democracy as the EU expands to 25 Member States. Ten new
countries are joining the European Union - Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and
Slovenia. Numerous events, organised by the European Institutions, EU
Governments and the private sector, are taking place across Europe to mark
the historic Enlargement.
"May 1st 2004 is an historic day for Europe, when we welcome into the EU family 10
new member countries and 75 million new EU citizens. Five decades after our great
project of European integration began, the divisions of the Cold War are gone - once
and for all", said Romano Prodi, European Commission President. "Our new
members bring to the Union the cultures and diversity of 10 countries with distinct
historical roots stretching back through the centuries. The peoples of Europe are
celebrating EU enlargement in a series of cultural events from the west coast of
Ireland to the eastern border of Poland, and from Valletta in the south to the
northernmost tip of Finland. Europeans are celebrating the fact that they are no
longer kept apart by artificial ideological barriers. We share the same destiny and we
are stronger when we act together. United in diversity, we can work more effectively
for safety and prosperity for all. As Prime Minister Ahern said recently in Prague:
'Enlargement is about opening minds as well as borders'. I urge all Europeans to
join in the celebrations of this astonishing achievement."
Gala Concert from Berlin, Warsaw and Malta, 30 April
On the eve of Enlargement, there will be a gala concert with some of the most
popular artists from the new Member States performing live to a television audience
of millions across Europe and beyond. Organised by the European Broadcasting
Union with the support of the European Commission, this will culminate in a
spectacular midnight firework display from Malta harbour. The concert can be seen
live in most EU countries and further afield.
The two hour show will be a tour of new Europe through an exhibition of music of all
genres, dance and cultural heritage. Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, one of the most
successful classical artists of our time, will perform in the Berliner Konzerthaus.
Bartoli’s latest CD was number one in the classical charts for weeks. The Open air
stage in Warsaw will host the Latvian group Brainstorm, Estonia’s Neiokõsõ, Michalis
Hadjiyiannis from Cyprus, the Hungarian Cotton Club Singers, Poland’s Blue Café
and Rozmarinke from Slovenia.
There will be more classical music from Berlin, with Slovakia’s Jenis Dalibor, Lukáš
Vondráček from the Czech Republic, Lithuania’s Violeta Urmana and the European
Union Youth Orchestra playing under the leadership of Conductor Vladimir
Ashkenazy (former director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin’s German
Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic).
Special guests such as Olympic ice skating champion Katarina Witt and composer
Mikis Theodorakis will introduce the artists and present videos from each new
Member State. There will also be a special guest appearance by the Turkish singer
Sertab. The show will reach its peak with spectacular midnight fireworks from Malta
harbour directed by Gert Hof and set to the music of former Pink Floyd member
Roger Waters.
Enlargement Ceremony, 1 May
The Irish Presidency of the European Union will stage a ceremony in Dublin to mark
the historic enlargement, attended by the Heads of State and Government of all 25
EU Member States.
Other Events
A huge variety of events, large and small, ranging from concerts and exhibitions to
food fairs, debates and border exchanges, are being organised all across Europe.
Further information:
http://europa.eu.int/eday_en.htm
and/or MEMO/04/100
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TV stations showing the EU Enlargement Gala Concert, 30 April 2004
Albania - RTV
Austria - ORF
Belgium - RTBF
Bosnia and Herzegovina - PBS
Croatia - HRT
Cyprus - CBC
Czech Republic - CT
Denmark - DR
Estonia - ETV
Finland – YLE
France - FR3
Germany - ZDF
Greece – ERT
Hungary – MTV
Ireland - RTE
Kosovo - RTK
Latvia - LT
Lithuania - LT
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – RTV
Malta – PBS
The Netherlands – NOS
Norway – NRK
Poland – TVP
Portugal – RTP
Romania - TVR
Serbia and Montenegro – UJRT
Slovakia – STV
Slovenia - TVS
Spain - TVE
Sweden – SVT
Turkey – TRT
Ukraine - NTU
United Kingdom – BBC
Also: ARTE (several countries)
Republic of Korea - KBS
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