site.btaBulgaria Celebrates Europe Day

A number of events will take place across the country on the occasion of Europe Day on Thursday. In Bulgaria, it is celebrated in accordance with Decree 54 of the Council of Ministers of 29 March 2005.

Europe Day has been celebrated since 1986, in accordance with a decision of the European Council Summit in Milan, Italy (28-29 June 1985). It marks the anniversary of the speech (1950) by former French foreign minister Robert Schuman in Paris, France, in which he set out his plan for the unification of the coal and steel industries of Western European countries (the so-called "Schuman Declaration") as "first concrete foundation of a European federation".

On 9 May, at 10 am, President Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Iotova will attend a ceremony of raising the flag of the European Union in front of the presidential building. Before the ceremony, the head of State will receive the honor guard of the National Guard, the President's press secretariat said.

At 9 am, the President and the Vice President will present flowers at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in the capital on the occasion of the commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War II.

A number of events will take place in Sofia under the auspices of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria.

At 9 pm, a three-dimensional video mapping show "Your Voice" will take place on the facade of the National Art Gallery, the institution announced. It is part of the third edition of the Lunar Festival of Lights. The organizer of the show is the Bureau of the European Parliament in partnership with the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria. The story will take the audience on a journey through the complex landscape of choice, where every threshold crossed is a step into the unknown, but also a unique opportunity. There will be alternating projections in Bulgarian and English, which will last until midnight.

Those who will not be able to see the show live can follow the broadcast from 9:30 pm on the Facebook page and YouTube channel of the European Parliament in Bulgaria, the organizers said.

Bulgaria will mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement with a celebratory concert "20 Years Together", organized jointly with the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, Sofia Municipality and the embassies of Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

In Sofia's City Garden from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm, people will have the opportunity to taste local food and drinks from EU Member States and enjoy music from different parts of Europe.