As Europe celebrated Europe Day on May 9, major landmarks and sites across the European Union are lit up between May 8 and May 9, marking the occasion and signalling the one-month countdown to the European elections scheduled from June 6 to 9.
The Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge in Rio-Antirio, Greece, stands among the notable sites that participated in the illuminations, symbolising peace and unity in Europe.
In a joint effort coordinated by the European Parliament, over 60 cities across Europe will join in displaying messages urging citizens to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections. This initiative aims to underscore the significance of the elections for the collective future of 440 million European citizens.
Landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Grand Palace in Brussels projected the election campaign slogan “Use your vote, Or others will decide for you,” alongside the European flag during the designated period.
Additionally, numerous other iconic buildings and monuments, including the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin, Vilnius’ town hall, Fort St Angelo in Valletta, and the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, participated in the initiative, further emphasising the importance of democratic participation in shaping Europe's future.
In his statement commemorating the day, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis underlined that Greece, as one of the oldest members of EU, has been contributing for more than four decades to achieving European unification, enlargement and integration. He also remarked, "In times when international peace and security are at stake, the European Union’s role is very important and it has an obligation to support the preservation of international stability."
Europe Day commemorates the historic “Schuman Declaration” signed on May 9, 1950, which laid the groundwork for European cooperation and ultimately led to the formation of the European Union. Schuman's visionary proposal marked the inception of what has evolved into the modern European Union.
