Von der Leyen recalled that the Czech fight for freedom was also an inspiration for her personally. Therefore, in her speech to the European Parliament after her first election in 2019, she quoted Václav Havel.
“Work on something that is good. And not just because it has a chance of success,” von der Leyen recalled the Czech statesman’s quote.
“You have become one of Ukraine’s most reliable allies. Not because it’s easy, but because it was right. You have accepted the largest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita. Not because it was easy, but because it was right,” said the President of the European Commission during her speech.
The official celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of the Czech Republic’s entry into the European Union culminate with a concert in Prague’s Rudolfinum. The Ninth Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven, the official anthem of the European Union, will also be performed as part of the Czech Philharmonic concert led by chief conductor Semjon Byčkov.
Von der Leynová traveled to the Czech Republic to support populist politicians before the European elections, at a time when the country is commemorating twenty years since joining the European Union. The president met with the politicians of the Spolu coalition at an informal lunch at a restaurant in Prague’s Kampa. In the afternoon, President Petr Pavel received her.
According to the Castle’s press release, Pavel and the chairwoman of the EC recalled how they personally perceived this day 20 years ago at the beginning of the meeting. “The main topics of the conversation were the priorities of the Czech Republic in the European Union and the upcoming elections to the European Parliament. They also debated issues of international politics, especially Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Hrad said.
You experienced an economic miracle, Von der Leyen said to the Czech Republic twenty years after joining the EU
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