On May 1 this year, Estonia marked 20 years as a member of both the European Union and NATO. In celebration, a concert titled "Our Europe. Our NATO" will take place on Europe Day, May 9, at Freedom Square in Tallinn, featuring artists such as Bedwetters, nublu, Gameboy Tetris, and Tommy Cash. The concert, running from 19:30 to 21:00, will also be broadcast on ETV and ETV+ channels.

"This year, Europe Day holds more significance for us, as it's the twentieth anniversary of Estonia's membership in the EU and NATO. We offer discussions as well as entertainment and invite everyone to participate. The European Union makes Estonia stronger and more successful," stated Vivian Loonela, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Estonia.

Tallinn's Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski invites residents to celebrate Europe Day together at Freedom Square. "Europe Day events bring us together, highlighting our shared values and achievements. It's a wonderful opportunity to show how important our membership in the European Union and NATO is and to celebrate this historic milestone with our loved ones and fellow citizens. We look forward to everyone joining the festive program and sharing the joy of Europe Day!"

The celebration in Tallinn begins at 9:00 with an orienteering game, inviting schools and youth organizations from the Defence League to participate. The game lasts until 17:00, and participants need to download the Navicup app to their smartphones to start. All checkpoints are located at embassies of EU countries or Estonian government buildings. Many embassies and buildings will also open their doors to visitors, offering a unique opportunity to see places usually inaccessible. The main prize, a €2000 excursion for the entire class or group, will be raffled among all participants. No pre-registration is required for the game, and game rules can be found on the website www.europapäev.ee.

From 13:15 to 14:15, the ERR portal will broadcast a seminar "My Estonia, My Europe. 20 Years Later," discussing Estonia’s achievements and future prospects in the EU. Participants include President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President Kersti Kaljulaid, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, moderated by journalist Johannes Tralla. The seminar will also announce the European of the Year and, for the first time, the European of the Decades, honoring those who have significantly contributed to Estonia's journey in the EU over the past 20 years.

At 15:00, the European Union anthem will sound from the tower of St. John’s Church, and the flags of the European Union and NATO will be ceremonially raised at the War of Independence Victory Column. Government officials and ambassadors from EU countries will attend the flag-raising. From 15:00 to 18:00, the event area "Our European Union. Our NATO" will be open at Freedom Square, featuring exhibitions by EU embassies and EU-related organizations, as well as Estonian internal security agencies – the Police and Border Guard Board, the Rescue Board, the Defence League, and the Defence Forces. Visitors can explore different technology, taste and experience the cultures of EU countries, and engage in discussions while enjoying displays and performances. A highlight will be police dogs demonstrating their skills. The EU tent will host the Slava Ukraini cafe, supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians. Musical ambiance will be provided by a military band.

From 18:00 to 21:00, a free concert titled "Our Europe, Our NATO" will take place at Freedom Square, featuring performances by Bedwetters, nublu, Gameboy Tetris, and Tommy Cash. The concert will also be broadcast on ETV and ETV+ from 19:30 to 21:00.

In honor of the anniversary, the European Commission's Representation in Estonia, in cooperation with the State Chancellery, is publishing the book "My Estonia, My Europe. 20 Years Later." The book offers a retrospective of Estonia's journey in the EU through the eyes of those closely involved, with interviews from notable figures such as Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, President Kersti Kaljulaid, and entrepreneur Sten Tamkivi. The essays include contributions from celebrated writer Tõnu Õnnepalu and a young student, Anna Milena Linder, born in Estonia after its EU accession in 2004.

Since late April, an exhibition "My Estonia, My Europe" has been on display in Tammsaare Park, highlighting the benefits of EU membership that we may not notice in everyday life.

For more information about the Europe Day events, please visit www.euroopapäev.ee. All Tallinn residents are invited to join in celebrating European unity together!

Estonia joined the EU in 2004 after six years of accession negotiations. Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus joined alongside Estonia. Membership in the European Union and NATO has assured us that we will never be alone again.

Europe Day is celebrated every year on May 9, commemorating the historic Schuman Declaration. In a 1950 speech in Paris, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed a new type of political cooperation in Europe that would make war among European nations unthinkable. He suggested creating a joint European institution to oversee the pooled production of coal and steel, which soon led to the signing of the treaty establishing such an organization. Schuman's proposal is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union.

The events of Europe Day are organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission's Representation in Estonia, the European Parliament Liason Office, the Goverment Office, the State Shared Service Centre, and co-organized by various other organizations.