- Published: 10.05.2025.
Europe Day celebrated at Zrinjevac Park
This year, as in years past, gathered citizens took part in celebrating Europe Day, a significant anniversary that commemorates the beginnings of European integration. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the commitment to peace, unity, democracy, and solidarity among European nations. On May 9, 1950, the then-French foreign minister presented the idea of uniting a war-torn Europe, laying the foundations for what we now know as the European Union.
The musical program began at around 4:00 p.m. from the Zrinjevac Park pavilion with a set of European hits by DJ Sommer, followed by a concert from the young and talented Croatian musician Martin Kosovec. His performance, featuring original compositions and interpretations of both local and international songs, offered the audience an unforgettable musical experience. The crowd enjoyed songs such as Stigma, Ti si bila moje sunce (You Were My Sunshine), Sjaj u tami (Shine in the Dark), Ti si moj san (You Are My Dream), Tvoja Zemlja (Your Land), Neka cijeli ovaj svijet (Let This Whole World), as well as international hits like Green Green Grass of Home and My Way.
This was yet another opportunity to celebrate Europe Day in a spirit of unity and to reflect—especially in today’s times of security challenges—on the importance of the European project, which has secured peace and stability in Europe since the end of World War II. In this context, the Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, speaking on behalf of the Croatian Prime Minister, addressed the gathered citizens with a message that in times of uncertainty, it is crucial to turn toward the European project of peace, respect, and unity, and to uphold the European values we worked to adopt in order to become part of the EU. She added that we all need to safeguard these values for the benefit of all citizens.
On behalf of the organizers, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Zdenko Lucić, briefly addressed the audience, thanking them for coming and wishing them a happy Europe Day. He emphasized that now more than ever, it is essential to preserve European unity and solidarity, highlighting the importance of protecting and strengthening the European Union and the admirable project of European unification.
Alongside this central musical event, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in collaboration with the Cultural Club, also organized a film screening program called Europe in Cinema as part of the Europe Day celebration. The film retrospective is being held at the Metropolis Cinema in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (Avenija Dubrovnik 17) from May 6 to May 16, 2025. Admission to all film screenings is free, and the full event program and list of films can be found at www.europaukinu.eu and on the Facebook page facebook.com/europaukinu.eu.