Europe Day 2021: A sweet reception in the nation's capital!
Around 90 distinguished guests attended the event held on Friday 7 May, ahead of Europe Day. Ambassadors and High Commissioners from across Europe were joined by their counterparts from countries around the globe.
Federal MP and Chair of the European Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group Andrew Wallace was a guest speaker. Government officials, business leaders and representatives from industry, science, education, research and innovation were also in attendance.
It was a sweet occasion with a Smörgåsbord of desserts prepared by the European Union Member State Embassies and High Commissions.
Our friends from Oz Harvest made sure there was no wastage, helping to deliver the goodies to charities in Canberra.
The Dorring Street Quartet entertained guests with a repertoire of classical works including the EU anthem: Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
The Europe Day reception was also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Horizon Europe – the EU’s research and innovation programme.
The interactive exhibition, including video and QR links, features stories of European and Australian scientific collaboration, like the lifesaving Covid-19 treatments being used to save lives in intensive care wards around the world.
Europe Day Celebrations continued well into the night when one of Canberra’s most iconic landmarks - Telstra Tower - shone bright in the EU blue and gold colours.
The EU flag also flew high at Reconciliation Place in the week leading up to Europe Day.
The flag is a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. The stars stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony and nothing to do with the number of EU Member States.
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Celebrated annually, Europe Day marks anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, when the French foreign minister Robert Schuman proposed a joint authority to oversee French and German production of coal and steel. This helped to promote common interests between European countries, paving the way for the formation of the European Union.
