On 9 May, 'Europe Day' will be celebrated for the eleventh time since Latvia joined the European Union. This year, a new tradition is being introduced – an Open Doors Day at institutions related to Europe.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission Representation, the European Parliament Information Office, and the Embassies of EU Member States are inviting people to celebrate Europe Day together, and to open their doors to the public from 11.00 to 15.00.
Europe Day at the Foreign Ministry will be launched by the Parliamentary State Secretary for EU Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica. The opening event will be live-streamed on the Foreign Ministry website at www.mfa.gov.lv.
The Representation of the European Commission in Latvia and the European Parliament Information Office in Latvia will offer visitors creative and entertaining activities at the Europe House (Eiropas māja).
A creative workshop, the “Trip of Musical Instruments”, will be organised for kids. To test knowledge about the EU, there will be a quiz with prizes for the best results. In addition, the visitors will have an opportunity to present their vision of Europe on special postcards that will later be presented to the official guests of the Latvian Presidency of the EU Council to send home from Riga. Adults and kids will assemble an EU map puzzle, and play a guessing game about traditional foods, cities and famous people from EU Member States.
The Embassies of Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania and Sweden are also inviting the public to visit on 9 May to learn about their countries. Staff at the embassies will also be available to answer visitors’ questions, and guests at the Swedish and Estonian embassies will have the chance to meet the Ambassadors from these countries in person.
Visitors will be requested to present their ID (a passport, an ID card or a driver’s licence) upon arrival at the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s Open Doors Day.
