Hungary has joined the EU on the 1st of May, 2004. Celebrating our 10 year membership, there will be various programs this month, including a whole day festival at Erzsébet Square, a free running race and various concerts.
This May is all about the European Union in Hungary: it’s the 10th anniversary of us joining the EU, we have the elections to the European Parliament, and the 9th of May is the Day of Europe - a day of peace and unity, celebrating the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which has ultimately become today's "European Union".
1 May 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the biggest enlargement in the EU's history with the addition of 10 new member states, including Hungary. As a member, we recieved a lot of support in the last 10 years - thanks to EU tender funds, we could finance a lot of developments that we couldn’t vivify on our own. Metro 4 is one example, but not only our architecture, but our culture is supported by the EU as well. To celebrate this successfull cooperation, various programs will be organized country-wide between 1st -16th of May, and a whole day long festival held in Budapest, Erzsébet Square, with diverse programs.
11th of May is a good opportunity for anyone to get to know about how the European Union works at Erzsébet Square. Children programs start from 10 am, with Trampoline theater’s performance, then continue with an interactive fairy tale concert by Eszter-lánc fable-orchestra, with children songs, folk songs, and tales and poems of contemporary poets set to music. A bouncy castle, wheel of fortune and creative playhouse will be there as well, and everyone can create his own jewellery or toy from recycled materials by Cókmók Műhely (a workshop for creative ones). Even a luthier workshop will be held to create your own musical instrument.
While children are playing, adults can get information about their rights as European citizens, about learning and working in the EU, and of course about the elections to the European Parliament. A lot of games and tasks will await visitors, presented by Kézenfogva Alapítvány (Hand in Hand Foundation), and presenter of the program, Attila Till.
For those who’d like to stay active during the weekend, a free running race is organized, named 10 years – 10 kms, starting from Erzsébet Square. The route affects 10 emblematic developments in Budapest, realized with significant support by the European Union. Participants will run through the Margaret Bridge, and the new main street of Budapest in the 5th district, then they will be passing the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, the Rudas Bath and run next to the Castle Garden Bazaar. Participating is free, but you have to register.
After the opening ceremony, the main stage at Erzsébet Square will become the music center of the event –after Budapest Nufolk Revolution and Magashegyi Underground, several famous jazz musicians meet and play music courtesy of EUNIC network (which brings together several European cultural institutions). At last, the famous Hungarian rock band, 30Y will take the stage.
Meanwhile, on the Podium stage, there will be a photo exhibition on display, with the title Path to peace in Europe 1914-2014, including works by André Kertész and Tamás Lobenwein, and with photos documenting Hungary’s EU accession in 2004. There will be several conversations linked to the topics of the day, and the team of Astoria Slam Poetry will focus on Europe with their concert as well.
For further details, visit the following web-sites:
