Parliament will hold a formal sitting twenty years after the "iron curtain" was torn down
European Parliament will celebrate a formal sitting to commemorates the 20th anniversary of democratic change in central and in central and eastern Europe. Eighty-nine young people born in November 1989, when the Berlin wall fell, will come to Brussels to celebrate the anniversary of a new Europe.
On 9 November 1989, the wall of shame that divided Europe fell. Parliament will celebrate this event, which has become a symbol of unification and liberty, without forgetting a long series of tragic events - whether in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, or the Baltic countries - which have changed the face of Europe.
On Wednesday 11 November,Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, and Jerzy Buzek, Poland's former Prime Minister, both important players in the democratic changes of 20 years ago, will participate in Parliament's formal session in Brussels. A short video on historic events of our time produced by Parliament's audiovisual services will be screened.
This ceremony will be preceded by a debate between the President and 89 young people, all aged 20, from all EU Member States. They will exchange views on "What Europe means for me". A photo exhibition on the historic events of this time of change in Europe will be inaugurated by President Buzek.