European Day marked in Macedonia

The Ode of Joy could be heard in the Skopje City Park

On 1 May 2004 the European Union got a hundred and fifty new members.

For fifty-four years since the Schumann Declaration, the European Union has been a synonym for peace, democracy and prosperity. This year, the ninth of May, the European Day the Union greeted with 25 member-countries ten of which had been given admission only nine days before the official celebration took place. On 1 May 2004 the European Union got a hundred and fifty new inhabitants which is the biggest enlargement so far. Although so far, Macedonia is only an applicant for membership in the European Union, the European Day was marked in our country as well.

"Macedonia marked this day because it is a European country, because it respects the values of the European democracies, because with the act of applying for membership it expressed its determination to become part of the European family", said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilinka Mitreva.

The European Hymn "The Ode of Joy" by Beethoven could be heard in the Skopje City Park where the representatives of the European Union office and the embassies of the European Countries here, on their improvised stalls, distributed promotional materials, and some embassies promoted gastronomic specialties typical for their countries. The manifestation was organized in cooperation with the Sector for Eurointegration at the Macedonian Government, joined by several local communities that carry out reforms for approaching Europe.

"I hope that the enlarged EU will manage to share the values and principles set by its founders with the closest neighbours and the rest of the world. As far as the Macedonian future is concerned, the question is no longer "if" but "when" will Macedonia join the EU. That "when", of course, depends on the question "how" will your country become a member of the Union. The first European partnership will soon be confirmed by the Council of EU. It will be a guideline for the Macedonian integration in the EU. I invite all citizens to join the Government, the Parliament and the other institutions in the efforts to accomplish their desire to become an EU member. The European Commission will always be here to help you on that road", was the message that the Head of the European Commission Delegation , the Ambassador Donato Chiarini sent to the Macedonian citizens.

 

M.K.