Twenty years ago, on 1 May 2004, ten European countries joined the European Union in the largest simultaneous enlargement round to date. This historical milestone marks a decisive development in the modern history of Europe, as it has strengthened the European Union, while also positively transforming all EU member states in the process.
On this special occasion, the Embassies of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia in partnership with the Municipality of The Hague organised a flag ceremony on 1 May 2024 at De Hofvijver, in The Hague. To mark the crucial milestone, H.E. Ambassador Lauri Kuusing of Estonia delivered a keynote statement on behalf of the ten European Union Member States which joined the European Union in 2004. Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Paul Huijts and Mrs. Eline Beemsterboer, Head Team Europe in the Municipality of The Hague also delivered a statement.
Ambassador H.E. Dániel Horogszegi Szilágyi-Landeck participated flag raising ceremony as well, which was accompanied by the European Anthem, ‘The Ode to Joy’ performed by students from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. The symbolic gesture aimed to highlight the EU’s shared values and unity in diversity, celebrate the European Union’s achievements towards peace, prosperity and human rights while at the same time inspire hope to address the challenges which lay ahead.
