When Estonia joined the EU 1 May, 20 years ago, instead of shooting off fireworks, we planted 1 million trees: spruce and pine mainly; saplings at the time, really.
With friends and neighbors, I planted some 3000 that day.
On 2 May 2004, I planted a real park of larger trees.
The years 1996-2002, the years of the Estonian accession and negotiation process, when I was foreign affairs minister, were the most intense of my life, as they were for so many of my colleagues. I wanted to mark that process with something more enduring than just fireworks.
I invited those most involved in our accession to come to my farm and to plant a tree in their own name or the name of their country:
Estonian foreign ministry officials who had worked hardest on enlargement; politicians from Estonia and abroad, without whom there would have been no enlargement; ambassadors of EU members resident in Estonia at the time, came to Ärma to plant their tree.
Over the years the park has grown. As have the trees. Euroopa Park has become full-fledged park, with the trees of some 10 EU heads of state and government and many other friends of Estonia.
Trees in Estonia are only now slowly coming into leaf. Here is one tree, a Red Maple, planted by Günter Verheugen, EU Commissioner for Enlargement 1999-2004. without whom the "Big Bang" of 2004 enlargement could not have taken place.
Directly to the left is a Horse Chestnut, planted by the Netherlands ambassador at the time, Ms Van Vliet.
The red "August Vaga" apple tree in the background between the two, was planted by composer Arvo Pärt.
Long after I am gone there will be a park dedicated to Estonia joining the European Union.
https://nitter.privacydev.net/EuroopaKomisjon
https://nitter.privacydev.net/MFAestonia

[2024-05-02 11:41 UTC]