This year, for the first time, Georgia celebrated Europe Day as a candidate for EU membership. To mark this occasion, the European Union representative in Georgia held a large-scale event.
Different spaces were organized in the five pavilions and courtyards of Expo Georgia, where a variety of activities for people of all ages were presented throughout the day.
The European Union’s partner organization, the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, represented one of the stands in the 11th pavilion.
The representatives of NALAG provided interested individuals with information about the activities of the association and the projects implemented in cooperation with the European Union.
Visitors to the NALAG stand also had the opportunity to participate in various quizzes and win special prizes established by the organization.
Fun games were designed for people of all ages. Friends and family members competed with each other in guessing questions about self-government, as well as the coats of arms of Georgian municipalities and flags of European countries. The little guests happily participated in the quiz dedicated to them, “draw your idea for the mayor of your municipality”.
The event was officially opened by the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Pavel Herchinsky, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, and the Mayor of the capital, the President of NALAG, Kakha Kaladze.
The speakers addressed the gathered guests, talked about the importance and necessity of Georgia’s membership in the European Union, and congratulated the present society, friendly countries, and the population of Georgia on “Europe Day”.
The event dedicated to Europe Day was attended by NALAG’s Vice President, Giorgi Tkemaladze, Tbilisi City Council Chairman; the Association’s Executive Director, Nino Rukhadze; and Davit Melua, an expert in local government issues and director of the “Partnership at the local level for public administration reform in Georgia” project.
The representatives of NALAG visited various pavilions, acquainted themselves with the activities of the organizations, and participated in several exhibitions presented by them.
Europe Day, celebrated every year on May 9, was established in honour of the 1950 declaration by Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister at the time.
On May 9, 1950, Schuman presented the idea of a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which provided for the sharing of coal and steel reserves among European countries and made war in Europe unthinkable. This idea laid the foundation for the modern European Union. Since then, the European Union has been developing and working successfully, serving peace and prosperity and bringing together 447 million people across 27 countries.