By John Dunkelgrün.
On May 9th many European countries celebrate Europe Day, the day on which in 1950 the French Minister Robert Schuman signed a plan for a supranational European organisation. It started with an agreement between France and Germany to have joint management of all their coal and steel production.
Other European countries were invited to join . Six countries, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands formed the European Community for coal and steel (EGKS). This in time would develop into the European Union. It has resulted in the longest period in history during which Europeans lived in peace and prosperity. In the midst of all the tensions and problems of recent years it is good to remember this fact
In The Hague this was celebrated in the “Europa Huis”, next to the The Hague Historical Museum. It was organised by the European Commission and the European Parliament in the Hague, both of which have their offices there.
The hosts were Mr. Peter Bekx, who leads the Representation of the European Union in The Netherlands, Mr. Eduard Slootweg, in charge of the European Parliament Information Bureau here, and his wife, Ms Kleice Gonzaga Carneiro in a stunning kobalt blue dress.
Mr. Bekx opened the afternoon briefly commemorating the achievements of the EU. He stressed that as culture is as important as economics the guests would be treated to a recital of songs by different European composers who, fittingly, composed these Lieder in a European country other than their own!
The singer, Ms. Caroline Spanjaard, is a very versatile Dutch soprano who in about half an hour presented a musical tour of ten European countries with compositions spanning nine centuries. She has performed as a soloist in the most demanding Requiems and Passions, in many Lieder concerts and as an opera singer. She was most beautifully accompanied on the piano by Ms. Alison Black from Britain. Ms Black, who now lives in Holland has an impressive career as an accompanist to soloists and choirs. She also plays the organ in several churches. It was a pity that the quality of the piano was no match for her virtuosity.
All European member states were represented as well as most members of the G20 and other important international partners.
Most noteworthy was the presence of the British ambassador who quite literally gave “acte de présence”. Britain may be in a Brexit procedure, but is still and will always be a European nation, geographically as well as culturally.
