Europe Day 2023 and celebration of Ireland’s 50th anniversary of joining the EU

Europe Day commemorates the signing of the Schuman declaration, which, on 9 May 1950, lay the foundation for the unity and cooperation amongst EU member countries. The declaration was presented by French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Schuman, who was born in Luxembourg in 1886.

As one of the six founding members of the European project, Luxembourg has played an important role in shaping the Union’s policies and values. Its capital is a seat for European institutions since 1912 and is currently hosting EU institutions such as the European Parliament’s General Secretariat, the European Court of Justice or the European Court of Auditors.

In light of Europe Day 2023, Ambassador Florence Ensch accompanied Minister of State Malcom Noonan on a visit to Kilkenny City Vocational School, a secondary school in Co. Kilkenny, on 8 May. The pupils introduced the School Excellence Sustainable Tourism project as well as other school-led sustainability initiatives. Their presentation was followed by a general discussion about the EU with questions geared towards Minister Noonan and Ambassador Ensch.

The conversation about the EU continued the following day, 9 May, when the Ambassador visited Scoil Naomh Treasa, Co. Meath, to celebrate Europe Day with local primary school students. In the framework of the Blue Star Program, which aims to foster better knowledge and understanding of Europe through classroom projects and activities, the pupils displayed their creatively constructed European monuments and performed Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. A lively Q & A with the Ambassador, the Staff of Scoil Naomh Treasa and the pupils concluded the visit.

In honor of 2023 marking Ireland’s 50th anniversary of joining the EU, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul Andre Flammang attended an exhibition on the EU and its achievements at Leinster House, in the presence of the president of the Dáil Éireann, Sean O’Fearghail, Senator Jerry Buttimer, and European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness. The exhibition was organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Irish Academy.

To conclude the celebrations of Europe Day, the Ambassador attended a gala concert at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, organized by the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the European Commission and the European Parliament. The National Symphony Orchestra performed Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony conducted by David Brophy, with a specially formed choir.

Click on this link if you wish to know more about the institutions based in Luxembourg:

https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/international-openness/eu-institutions.html