Europe Day has been celebrated in Moldova since 2006

On May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman suggested Germany and other European states to lay the foundations of a European federation indispensable for maintaining peace. In 1985, May 9 was declared Europe Day. Moldova has celebrated it since 2006, Info-Prim Neo reports. [The celebration of Europe Day in Moldova started with a reception] Only an official reception was held in Chisinau on Europe Day in 2006. The next year, the Head of the Political and Economic Section of the Delegation of the European Commission to Moldova Paolo Berizzi said that by the activities dedicated to Europe Day, the Moldovan people can feel that the European Union is able to do something for them. In 2008 Europe Day was celebrated in Balti and Cahul. There were staged different events and the winners of the essay and painting competitions were awarded “Europa Prizes”. National singers gave a concert. In Chisinau Europe Day was marked on May 8 because events to celebrate victory over fascism in World War II were held on May 9. [In 2009 the public was invited to join the events] In 2009 Europe Day in Moldova was celebrated on May 10. For the first time, the European Commission Delegation invited the public to join the celebrations. A European Fair was mounted then, with booths informing about the cooperation between Moldova and the European Union. “We want Moldovan citizens to know why we, the Delegation of the European Commission, are here, what we are doing and how the population benefits from our work”, explains the Head of the European Commission Delegation to Moldova, Cesare De Montis. “We want to show to wider public what assistance we are offering to the Republic of Moldova, what are the concrete projects funded by the European Union, what is their aim and what are the results that we have achieved together,” added the Ambassador. Large-scale festivities were staged in the Great National Assembly Square on May 15, 2010, in cooperation with the Chisinau City Hall. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle came to Chisinau to take part in the events. Officials of the EU embassies presented the tourist and business opportunities of their countries and distributed promotional materials within the “European Village”. The visitors were invited to taste European dishes and drinks. The events culminated with a concert involving the Moldovan band Alternosfera and the Latvian band Brainstorm. In 2011, the EU Delegation to Moldova, in cooperation with Chisinau and Balti City Halls, organized two full-fledged celebrations of Europe Day - on May 7 in Chisinau and on May 14 in Balti. The EU special envoy Miroslav Lajčák, Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Neighborhood and the Western Balkans in the EU's External Action Service paid visit to Moldova to take part in the Europe Day celebrations. The “European Village” was the centre of Europe Days celebrations. It was set up in both cities: on the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau and on Vasile Alecsandri Square in Balti. The embassies of the EU Member States presented their culture, European cuisines and national identity in food tents. The “European Village” also hosted Public Debates, where Moldovans were able to ask questions and speak face to face with ambassadors and high-ranking Moldovan officials on political and economical issues. The events in Chisinau and Balti ended with concerts by Moldovan stars and famous European bands. For the first time in 2011, the European Film Festival was organized in Chisinau within Europe Day, on May 10-13. The embassies of the EU Member States presented 11 European movies. The festival’s guest of honor was Tony Hawks, comedy actor and author of the bestseller “Playing Tennis with the Moldovans”. [The events this year will last for a week] This year, Europe Days in Moldova will be marked in Chisinau and Comrat on May 12-19. The official opening will take place in the Great National Assembly Square at 2pm on May 12. Tents of the embassies of the EU Member States will be put up in the central square of Chisinau, as last year. The visitors of the “European Village” will receive information about the European languages, culture, traditions and cuisines. They will be able to taste Italian tortellini, Spanish paella (a dish of rice and sea fruit), and Czech beer. The representatives of Germany, France, Turkey, Estonia and Belgium will also present traditional foods. ‘Linguistic corners’ will be set up within the “European Village”, where the visitors will be able to learn key words and phrases in different languages of the EU. The children will be able to draw on asphalt with colored chalk and to paint different EU symbols on the body. The most active ones will receive presents from the EU Delegation to Moldova. The activities within the “European Village” will end with a concert involving singers from Moldova and abroad. It will start at 7pm and will last until 9pm. The Gaudeamus Theater in Chisinau will host the European Film Festival between May 14 and 18. There will be daily screened by two-three movies in the original languages, with subtitles in the official language of Moldova. Entrance will be free of charge.