Remembering the 15 year Anniversary of the Accession of the Czech Republic into the EU at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra
06.05.2019 / 09:03 | Aktualizováno: 06.05.2019 / 09:07
On Wednesday 1st May 2019, the European and Czech national tree – the Linden tree – was ceremonially planted in the front garden of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra. The Linden tree is also known as “Tree of Liberty“ and represents the values of freedom and democracy – values which each and every member state of the European Union recognises and is bound to support.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Czech Ambassador, the head of the European delegation of the European Union, representatives of the other 9 states who entered into the European Union alongside the Czech Republic 15 years ago, as well as representatives of other European countries.
In 2004, as part of the fifth and up until now largest ever expansion of the European Union, 10 countries, including the Czech Republic, entered into the EU. These countries were Estonia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
During their speeches, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Dub, and the Ambassador of the European Delegation in Canberra, Michael Pulch, briefly described the context surrounding accession. They mentioned that the fifth expansion of the European Union definitively put an end to the east-west division of Europe. Both Ambassadors saw membership in the EU as positive and mentioned that despite the fact that the journey of embracing so many new countries and integrating them into a working whole can be difficult, together we are stronger.
In conclusion, Ambassador Tomáš Dub expressed his thanks to all of the countries who made up the European Union before the fifth Expansion, for accepting the Czech Republic’s bid for membership.
In the reception that followed, guests were