Celebrating the Treaty of Rome in Finland

Europe Day, 9 May, has been widely celebrated in Finland since the Finnish accession to the EU in 1995. This year the festivities took place in 17 cities, namely in Espoo, Helsinki, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kirkkonummi, Kokkola, Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Tampere, Tornio, Turku and Vaasa. In addition, the day was celebrated in many schools and workplaces all over the country.

The idea of Europe Day is to remind people yearly of the benefits of European integration, and of our common rich cultural heritage. The main theme of this year’s celebrations was the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and thus of the European Union.

The festivities were successful in many terms. Different festivals, open air events with a cultural programme and seminars all over Finland managed to gather a big audience and good media coverage. EU-information was handed out in the streets, market places and schools. A Europe quiz was also organised nationwide.

On the initiative of the European Movement in Finland 9 May was also a flagging day. The Ministry of the Interior recommended flagging preferably with both the Finnish and EU flag. All government offices were flagging that day.

Every year a certain region in Finland is chosen to host the main event. This year’s main event was in Turku on the south-western coast. Turku is inter-alia nominated to be one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2011. Several activities took place in Turku in the first week of May. There was a European food theme week in the schools, there were several seminars and conferences and the city’s Cultural Office organised outdoor activities. Also two European exhibitions were held simultaneously, one in the main library and the other in the Hansa-centre, a major shopping centre in the city centre. On 9 May the main Europe Day festivity took place in the Hansa-centre with a European cultural programme during the day and different organisations were handing out information on Europe.

Also a festive EU 50th Anniversary seminar was held on Europe Day, the keynote speakers being the Mayor of Turku, Mr. Mikko Pukkinen, the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ilkka Kanerva and the Enlargement Commissioner Mr. Olli Rehn. Commissioner Rehn also took part and held speeches at the Hansa-centre and at two schools.

The Eurovision Song Contest taking place at the same time in Helsinki played a major role. The embassies of all the EU countries and all the Eurovision Song Contest countries were presenting their countries in the middle of the city at the Europe Market from 8 to 12 May. The main day of the Europe Market was obviously 9 May when the Market was filled because of the cultural programme.

Before Europe Day educational materials for teachers were compiled containing EU- and Europe-related material. The packages contained also material for distribution to the pupils such as posters and balloons for Europe Day celebrations in schools. Teachers could order them free of charge. These packages were sent to 80 different cities and municipalities all over Finland.

The main organiser of the Europe Day activities is the European Movement in Finland together with its local branches. The co-organisers include the European Commission Representation in Finland, the Europe Information of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Information Office of the European Parliament in Finland, cities, NGOs, volunteers and schools.

Mikael von Rabenau, European Movement Finland