The ceremony was attended by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa (Greens and Farmers Union), the Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity), the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže and the President of the Supreme Court Aigars Strupišs.
he celebrations started in the early hours of this morning, with a joint changing of the guard of honor.
Shortly afterwards, public officials headed to the Holy Spirit Tower of Riga Castle, where the flag of the European Union was raised and the European anthem - Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" - was played.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Latvia's accession to the European Union, various events took place in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia. There were concerts, exhibitions, city environmental art and a parade carrying a large European Union flag.
At 15:30, a march from Doma Square to the Freedom Monument took place, carrying large Latvian and EU flags through the Old Town. Finally, the participants in the flash action, led by the Latvian Diplomatic Choir, joined together in singing the Latvian and European anthems at the Freedom Monument.
