Slovenia Joins Celebrations of Europe Day
Numerous politicians, artists and other opinion leaders took the pen in their hand on Tuesday to join 27 writers of the "Story of Europe" across the continent in celebration of Europe's cultural, literary and culinary diversity, the focal point of this year's Europe Day.
The Café d'Europe in Ljubljana, one of the 27 such venues in the capitals of EU member states and accession countries, was launched in Ljubljana by Austrian Ambassador Valentin Inzko, European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik and Janez Lenarcic, the head of the Government Office for European Affairs (SVEZ).
They joined author Ales Debeljak, who has been selected by the international PEN as the author of the Slovenian chapter in the Story of Europe. According to Debeljak, the café revives the dying art of conversation where the conflict of dialogue is not unusual.
"Opposing, often antagonistic opinions is not only necessary but also desired; it is only in the clash of diverging world views that new quality is created in the world. And what is Europe but a new quality for which we opt at the everyday referendum," Debeljak said.
Another reason why cafés are important is to remind us that there is no single identity, Debeljak continued. It is more appropriate to talk about Europe not as a space but as a project in which all mother tongues have domicility; it is better to talk about a Europe of countries and mother tongues, not a Europe of nation states, he said.
Commissioner Potocnik meanwhile stressed that Europe is united in diversity. The message of our common power is clear: we are proud to be different and to be able to share and realise our dreams in a united Europe.
SVEZ head Janez Lenarcic also recalled how the café tradition "unites and connects us in Europe". The EU is not an idyllic world, especially now that it faces a considerable institutional crisis, but Europe will stay united in its diversity, he stressed.
Public figures in all 27 participating countries (the EU25 plus Bulgaria and Romania) joined 27 local authors in writing the Story of Europe project today. The best contributions will be published in a special publication.
Since cafés stand for coffee as well as desserts, the guests of the Café d'Europe have a choice of 27 desserts from the participating countries, as well as free recipes on how to make them.
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